We don’t get too many perfect days where I live.  When you suffer from breathing issues, allergies and old age, you relish it when a day comes along that’s just the right temperature, with low dew points and not much pollen in the air.

For the past couple weeks, I’ve not been able to venture any further than the door of the house to the door of the car.  Not being able to get to the gardening has put me into a terrible mood.  Yesterday, at the crack of dawn, I thought I might be able to plant some new flowers before it got too steamy, but the morning dew hung in the air and the steam fogged up my eyes.  I quickly retreated to the air conditioned house.

Paul was on his way to teach an outdoor painting class, hoping the air would clear too.  He said it might get better as the sun burned off the humidity.  He was right.  I went out again when he left at 8:30 AM.  The air was just right, so without further ado, I donned my garden gloves and got those flowers in the ground.

A funny thing about aging – when you’re down on your knees, it’s a good idea to get as much done before getting up.  So I began pulling weeds and the nasty grass that’s so hard to get rid of with the lawn mower.  By the time Paul got home, I had filled two large garbage bags with weeds and trimmings.  I planted and tended to the other blooms.  I cleared off the raspberry bush of its remaining fruit.  My face was red and sweaty.  My knees were black with dirt.  I was desperately ready for a bath.

When you have a good day at my age, you have to take advantage of it.  Paul had an inspiring painting session with his students and was ready to get some outside work done too. After a light lunch, we went back outside and finished the work I’d started. The grass was mowed, the continuation of weeding ensued and thanksgiving for a beautiful summer day poured from our lips.

Today looks like a carbon copy of yesterday.  Plans are in place to purchase some mulch and fill in the bare spots of the garden.  If our bodies hold out, we may actually get it done.  Aging is much like gardening. Our bodies need attention.  If they don’t get it, they fall into disrepair, wither and die.  Which reminds me, I need to take some Ibuprofen, rub some liniment into my aching muscles and spray myself with bug repellent- all of which should keep the mosquitoes away.  Next week, I will surely pay for all this extra activity.