Digging My Garden
June 3rd, 2010
My labor is beginning to pay off in our organic garden. I do my work now the morning, before the sun shines hard because it’s awful for chemo patients’ sensitive skin. I have a feeling that this summer I’ll be especially appreciative of the raised beds.
I love homegrown tomatoes and hope that my mouth, where skin cells are already dying by the zillions, can stand up to them over the next few months. We’re also growing eggplant, onions, sweat peas, carrots, basil, cilantro, tomatillos, jalapenos (all the salsa ingredients) yellow squash, parsley (for cleanses) giant pumpkins, two varieties of table grapes and Armenian cucumbers for our famous bread-and-butter pickles. Fresno is the agricultural capital of the world!
The marigolds dispersed between the plants are supposed to keep pests at bay. I’ll let you know. Growing and eating organically has always been important to me, which makes this whole diagnosis so crazy. I do know that whatever I crave when I feel like eating this summer will probably be in our backyard.
Where are the pictures?
Hi Tracie – I’m a friend of Fawn’s and I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through. My mom was a breast cancer survivor, and I have every confidence that you will be too! Don’t try to figure out causation – you’ll lose your mind (as if you didn’t have enough going on). Just know that you are loved, being prayed for, and that as much as it sucks now, you’ll find yourself meeting very special people you never imagined, throwing off those acquaintenances who waste your time, and growing in your appreciation of life. You can beat this! Picture yourself in a “huggle” – that’s a circle of friends, known and unknown, sending you love and lifting you up in any way they can. Learning to receive…that may be the lesson.
Much love and Huggles!
Jayne Bray in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Jayne: Thank you for taking the time to lift my spirits today! The compassion and kindness from strangers is overwhelming. I will imagine the “huggle” in my darkest times. And I am already meeting amazing new friends! Good to meet you!
Tracie
Yum, I just love bread and butter pickles. It makes my mouth water just reading about the goodness you are growing in your garden. Things are so behind in NC because of the cold spring. Do you know the song, Friends Are Like Flowers?
It’s a kids song…
Friends are like flowers, beautiful flowers.
Friends are like flowers in the garden of life.
You can be what you are, I’ll be what I am.
We can be friends in the garden of life.
You are growing a garden of friends. I am so glad to be in your garden of life.
I can vouch for the world-class bread and butter pickles. I’m addicted.
Huggles to you, dear friend.