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Blog Entry 25 of 82 Baseball,football,the Grateful Dead,Jesus and me
Could be politics, religion, music, sports, family life or anything in-between and outside the lines. (I refuse to say "outside the box," even if my chosen line means exactly the same thing) Chronologically, I'm 40. The consensus among those who know me best puts me somewhere between 10 and 13 in terms of maturity. I love listening to Jimmy Buffett, the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and all acts Country (except the Dixie Chicks who offended my long-held,closed-minded view of decent behavior) I have deep, strong beliefs in all things I believe in and sometimes in things I don't. I pride myself in my contradictory nature even though it is a sign of weakness to change one's mind. I have been known to waver more than John Kerry talking about national defense, though I remain steadfast in my beliefs. I am prepared to argue to the death on one issue and one issue alone; Dickey Betts should be allowed back in the Allman Brothers. On this, there is no compromise. I believe in compromise in all other areas so long as the compromise includes everything that I want or believe in. In all seriousness, I am a lucky man, blessed with a wonderful family and an uncanny ability to not care about anything if the situation requires such. I believe that minds are like parachutes in that they have been known to fail their user, albeit with a slightly lower fatality rate. So that's me, or at least that's kind of me. I mean, I felt that way right before I didn't.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~billsblog

Marty's garden

Contributed by: Bill Prather   on 5/14/2007

Disclaimer: Posting this entry under "Home Improvement" is more than a stretch. Quite possibly, it's fraudulent. The only time I've been accused of improving a home was when I moved out.

While it's true I can't wash the blue from my collar, the green escaped my thumb, gasping for air, many years ago. Sometime around 1975, I reckon. That's when my second-grade project failed miserably. The sunflower suffered a tragic and agonizing death that even the worst plants don't deserve.

Flash-forward to last Saturday (okay, that's flashing back, I guess, but you know what I mean) and I'm in the garden section. Seedlings trembled as I passed. Apparently, my reputation preceded me because I know that I showered that morning, yet store clerks refused to acknowledge my existence.

My cause is noble, however. For months, my youngest son, Marty, has been asking me to help him plant a garden. We had the same discussion last year, but I bobbed and weaved my way out of it. No such luck this year. Seems the little Einstein figured out that we don't own the beautiful flower display just behind our back fence. Someday I'll explain to my retired neighbor why my son spent last summer referring to him as "Daddy's German gardener." Sorry, Al. No hard feelings?

Marty recently turned five, as he'll happily tell you. Many times. Somewhere along the way, some non-parent taught Marty about growing stuff. Stuff that I have no idea how to grow. No appeasing this kid with fuzzy, green cheese. He wanted stuff you can actually eat.

I remembered my Dad used to grow tomatoes and zucchini with seemingly little effort. I trust Dad. How could I not? This is the man who taught me to fix a car by playing the radio "really blasted loud!" When that stopped working, he showed me how to properly fill out a check to the nice man with the tow truck. (Gotta give props: It was Mom who taught me how to time the mail delivery with banking transactions so you could be driving again --before the check even bounced the first time!)

Tomatoes and zucchini it were. Or was. Or shall be. Or wrought, or thee or thou or 'tis of thee!

We bought tomatoes and zucchini. And peppers (four varieties!). Cucumbers. Strawberries. I began to cry. Marty was ecstatic. He doesn't know what ecstatic means, but somehow the twerp learned all about property lines! That's why I'm in this mess! Curses, Al!

We spent Saturday planting. I used organic stuff in order to grow more organic stuff. I got a kick out of the "organic" soil. Isn't it dirt? How can one dirt be more "dirt-like" than the other dirt? (I know, I just opened myself up to reader treatise on "Organic vs. Non-organic gardening." I love ya, I really, really do!)

We used "organic" poop to feed our new plants. Again, I chuckled. I acted out a conversation that really should have remained in my head: "My poop is more natural than your poop! Na, na, na, na,na!" My wife hid the whisky. I got back to planting stuff.

Marty is very happy with our planted stuff. I hope I can maintain the garden to his satisfaction. Secretly, I'm praying he loses interest soon. Perhaps by Thursday? At least before the next hail storm.

OHMYGOSH! Hail! I hadn't thought about hail! Lord help me. It's too soon for my boy to start hating me!

I'll keep you posted. I'm sure Marty will keep my nose to the grindstone. Organic stone, of course.

This one's for you Mart! "On to the garden and let's win there." (Look real hard, think harder; you'll get the inappropriate reference. Sorry)



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Showing 1-6 of 6 comments
Submitted By: Gene Boshell
posted on 6/29/2007 @ 7:26:32 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Best of luck to The Marty-Man ... and tell Mrs. P that if she doesn't return the whiskey I'll post a blog about a summer party I once attended at her place ;-)
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Submitted By: Brendan Leonard
posted on 5/22/2007 @ 9:59:21 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Good stuff. Hey, good luck, too. I have no experience, but I hear zucchini is really easy to grow, so, if nothing else, that should pull through. We're rooting for you. You know what else is going to be cool? When Marty's grown up and he reads these blogs again.
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Submitted By: Aaron Brachfeld & Mary Choate
posted on 5/17/2007 @ 7:58:18 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Poor guy! If all Marty's stuff is ruined, let us know and we'll help out by giving you some of our spare seeds for free (we're farmers). We'll even teach you how to put it in the ground so it isn't hurt by the hail, heat, cold, or other disasters...and how to avoid using herbicide, pesticide or fertilizer. directors@coastalfields.com
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Submitted By: Patrick Bunn
posted on 5/15/2007 @ 4:08:28 PM
Rated Blog Entry
I forgot to rate your story. So sorry. Lets hope Lorraine from my blog doesnt correct your choice of vegetables or something.
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Submitted By: Patrick Bunn
posted on 5/15/2007 @ 4:07:37 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Outstanding story. I pray for no hail, so you dont have to have the "Why Does God Hate Me Daddy" talk anytime soon. Really entertaining stuff, Bill. You keep me enlightened as to the garden, and I will try to keep you enlightened as to the city you choose to call home. And the only Allman that needs to get back with the band is Duane. He might smell a little bit, but I bet he can still bring it. Patrick
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Submitted By: Katherine Jerome
posted on 5/15/2007 @ 8:58:23 AM
Rated Blog Entry
What a great story, and what a terrific dad to garden with your son. I promise you that will pay off in the long term as Marty will never forget it. Sounds like you are off to a good start. I have been a gardening freak my whole life. It's good therapy, and really sort of miraculous, especially when you start with seeds. Have fun with your Zuchini, and while you're at it, check out my Zucchini story! Hopefully, you know what you're in for. Have fun........Katherine
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Showing 1-6 of 6 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Bill Prather

Arvada , CO

Bill Prather has posted 82 blog entries and 328 comments since joining on 7/15/2006. Bill Prather 's average blog rating is 4.45.
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