Skip The Comment Section, Grow A Garden Instead

It’s early Monday morning and the sky is overcast. I have seen no rain and next-to-none is in the forecast. What does it take to get a thunderstorm around here? What unsavory deal do we have to make for a single shower? October is only two weeks away and popular culture has moved on to fall with the Halloween wigs, pumpkin-spiced pumpkins and plastic net bags of dollar store pinecone potpourri. Yet, here in Water Valley, the ground is still dry as a bone and today’s high is 93 degrees. The Southeast needs a different calendar where all of our holidays happen a month later than the rest of the country so that our weather matches the merch.

Speaking of wishing for rain, I was honored to receive Yard of the Month from The Garden Club of Water Valley last week. That was a real surprise. The best part of the whole deal was being included in receiving an honor for my husband’s singular hard work. The comprehensive process of accomplishment is generally much easier, on a physical level, when you don’t do anything yourself to deserve it. I realized there’s a lot of freedom in someone else doing the work.

It was nice to do nothing for an award except answer the front door to receive a yard sign. This accolade my husband’s efforts earned us just reinforces my internal justification that I shouldn’t be the one to mow the yard because “I’m not good at it” (the same justification I use for not taking out the trash. No one needs an amateur taking out the trash!) Admittedly, I am in charge of all my yard’s roses and topiaries because they’re impossible to kill and because they both require a degree of sculpting which makes me feel like an artist. And it’s clearly all about me.

But gardening isn’t just good for the fame and glory. It is also a great way to stay off the comment sections of Facebook. And staying off the comment sections of Facebook is a great way to continue to love humankind.

If you have felt put out with what all has been going on in the world and on social media lately then go dig, cut or buy two little plants. Put them in two little pots. Pick a day of the week. Be sure to pick your least favorite day. Water your little plants on that least favorite day. Watch the plants grow. Experience your least favorite day of the week become Plant Day instead.

Once the plants are good and pretty, give one of them to somebody else. Anybody. Doesn’t matter who. Just another human being.

You can do that or you can comment on Facebook. It’s a choice. See which one saves the world first. (But if you’re a commenter on the Water Valley, Community Forum Facebook page then please don’t stop because y’all crack me up on the daily.)

Another opportunity to have a nice exchange with a friend or stranger is coming up in Water Valley – our annual Art Crawl. Everybody enjoys this event. It’s always a sure shot for fun times. The Art Crawl is a free event. It’s hosted by the Water Valley Main Street Association and will be on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 6–9 p.m.
See ya there!