Re: Jenn's Garden

[Guest guest]

Betz,

You never cease to amaze me. This is one of the greatest letters I have

ever read. You have missed you calling, girl. You need to compile

compositions

of some of your thoughts and publish them. Especially now that we have

to advise you and show you the way. Just a thought. Today is my " fog

day " , so my brain is " out to lunch " . Later........

Janet in Ca

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the encouragement, Betz. You keep making me weepy though,

blast you! *grin*

As for roses, my roses were the people I knew through my theatrical

work and teaching, which unfortunately, both of which have fallen

into the past...for now. IF I am really still up for this new job, if

I get it - it msy allow me to get back on stage with a theatrical

group in nearby Kennett, Mo. (Yes, where Sheryl Crow is from

originally.)

I need to find some new roses and I think that might be a good place

to look. The few I have, seem to be wilting. Haven't heard from many

in some time now, except for some of my old students who keep in

touch. One sent me three or four forwards while ago...the last one

made it clear she thought I needed...*ahem*...Marvin Gaye's kind

of " healing " . Too bad I didn't have 10 people to forward it to as the

letter stressed one must do or suffer dire consequences *lol*.

Chain letters. I remember when we used to do those via snail mail.

Those that foretold horrible fates befalling the reader if they

didn't send it to at least seven friends and the ones where you'd get

dishcloths in the mail like a month later.

I think during that last bad flare I got a bit too depressed for

some's liking...and one rose I thought I could always depend on and

had became quite close with...well, I haven't heard from him in a few

weeks. But maybe he's just been busy. I know something happened and

he's either out of a job or changed jobs. That creates major stress.

So, I guess I'll just sit and wait patiently for him to bloom again.

The phenomenon you describe with Aunt Lil is kind of how it was with

us - we weren't super close during our theatre days, but we were both

on-line late at night and had all these deep, philosophical kinds of

chats...and a bond formed. Two writers who like to write in the

middle of the night - even after they've written all day at work - go

figure. He is also one of strong faith - although we've both stumbled

into the briars along life's path from time to time.

Another potential rosebud, an old theatre chum I hadn't spoken with

in some time, and I have began chatting from time to time lately. Her

husband is about to be sent to Iraq. She and I have good chats...even

though I haven't seen any of my roses face to face in at least two

years.

Ironically, I used to chat in a group that called themselves " The

Knights of the Silver Rose " after the opera " Der Rosenkavalier " . At

that time I went by " Southern Grace " and was the " order's Lady of

Etiquette " - hence my odd email sg_otsr (Southern Grace Of The Silver

Rose). Only one of the Silver Roses is still in my life. My Cyber-

Sis, Dana. She's definitely a rose in the garden, even though we

don't get to speak much.

There are others, but communications are sporadic. Busy lives. Most

of the others are married with children - so it sort of makes me odd

lady out sometimes, but it's okay. I don't get out much in my current

job. Hopefully, if I can find something else it will allow me time to

seek out new roses.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Peace,

Jenn in AR

>

> I think you are wise to " weed your garden " though I know it is not

a

> pleasant task. You are an artful, sensitive gal with a big heart

> which makes it harder. I try to look at all the people in my life

as

> family...and some will come and some will go. Looking at ALL of

them

> as family can take the pressure off of you as you weed. One thing

> that I've taken note of since PA became such a big part of my life

> is that not only have I lost some folks that I THOUGHT were

friends,

> but I have actually gotten CLOSER to some people who were not what

I

> thought of as good friends. I think some of this is due to the fact

> that we all have different " caring styles " and abilities. Some

> people are gifted in caring for those in need. One particular lady,

> the aunt of my x husbands brother's wife (my sister in law's aunt),

> was always kind to me at Thanksgiving dinner and birthday parties

> and graduation bashes and the like. We would talk and laugh and cut

> up and share stories but did not keep in touch between parties. It

> wasn't that we had no desire to keep in touch. There just wasn't

any

> NEED to. Then I became needy. And BAM. Aunt Lillian was right there

> for me....encouraging cards with poems, sayings and verses on

little

> pieces of paper for me to keep in my wallet...a little cash now and

> then when was in the hospital and she knew I would need gas

> money...special emails to see how I was doing....Aunt Lillian is

> gifted in caring for those in need. As a result, our bond is

tighter

> now. There are others like that. I'm sure you have them too if you

> think about it. Those are your prized roses. Some of our plants we

> grew from seed. Some we just purchased already partially or full

> grown. All of these make our garden beautiful and pleasing. Some

> plants give us food, some are just for looks...all are good.

> Ah...but now and then, one that we once loved gets too big and

> starts to choke out the others and it has to be cut back or dug up

> and put into the compost pile where it becomes food for the others.

> That's how you get to use your hurt and what you've learned to help

> others grow. So keep on gardening Honey....you know what to do.

Keep

> your hands in the dirt and the Son on your face. -Betz

>

[Guest guest]

Do you know about roses? How the " old roses " are the ones that are

incredibly scented but not so perfect in form. They aren't

the " lookers " . Science made the lookers. They are stunning but they

DON'T SMELL GOOD. Roses are funny things. Some are bushes, some are

climbers and some are invasive and choke out trees and shrubs. Some

are hardy and some are frail. Some take ALOT of work and some you

just can't kill. It's up to us to figure out which ones will work

best in OUR garden. I always wondered what that name stood

for....silver rose. That would be you my dear. -Betz

> >

> > I think you are wise to " weed your garden " though I know it is

not

> a

> > pleasant task. You are an artful, sensitive gal with a big heart

> > which makes it harder. I try to look at all the people in my

life

> as

> > family...and some will come and some will go. Looking at ALL of

> them

> > as family can take the pressure off of you as you weed. One

thing

> > that I've taken note of since PA became such a big part of my

life

> > is that not only have I lost some folks that I THOUGHT were

> friends,

> > but I have actually gotten CLOSER to some people who were not

what

> I

> > thought of as good friends. I think some of this is due to the

fact

> > that we all have different " caring styles " and abilities. Some

> > people are gifted in caring for those in need. One particular

lady,

> > the aunt of my x husbands brother's wife (my sister in law's

aunt),

> > was always kind to me at Thanksgiving dinner and birthday

parties

> > and graduation bashes and the like. We would talk and laugh and

cut

> > up and share stories but did not keep in touch between parties.

It

> > wasn't that we had no desire to keep in touch. There just wasn't

> any

> > NEED to. Then I became needy. And BAM. Aunt Lillian was right

there

> > for me....encouraging cards with poems, sayings and verses on

> little

> > pieces of paper for me to keep in my wallet...a little cash now

and

> > then when was in the hospital and she knew I would need

gas

> > money...special emails to see how I was doing....Aunt Lillian is

> > gifted in caring for those in need. As a result, our bond is

> tighter

> > now. There are others like that. I'm sure you have them too if

you

> > think about it. Those are your prized roses. Some of our plants

we

> > grew from seed. Some we just purchased already partially or full

> > grown. All of these make our garden beautiful and pleasing. Some

> > plants give us food, some are just for looks...all are good.

> > Ah...but now and then, one that we once loved gets too big and

> > starts to choke out the others and it has to be cut back or dug

up

> > and put into the compost pile where it becomes food for the

others.

> > That's how you get to use your hurt and what you've learned to

help

> > others grow. So keep on gardening Honey....you know what to do.

> Keep

> > your hands in the dirt and the Son on your face. -Betz

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Betz.

http://www.geocities.com/sgrace_otsr

That's my old website. It has info on the KOTSR, as it was, on it.

Although the image on those pages is of a truly SILVER rose (in fact

off the cover of my " Der Rosenkavalier " CD), a real

Sterling Silver Rose (a hybrid tea-rose, which isn't too fragrant as

you say about the newer roses) is lavender in hue and has no thorns.

Therefore it symbolizes intimacy...no pricks, no harm. The fragrant

doppleganger of a Sterling Silver is the Blue Caruso, which has more

aroma and lives longer. Silver Roses tend to wilt quickly.

But, now that I'm heading back into the classroom in a few

weeks...perhaps I'll pick up some new roses for the

garden...including some old treasured ones that have just been on

the fringe of my orbit.

Peace.

Jenn in AR

> > >

> > > I think you are wise to " weed your garden " though I know it is

> not

> > a

> > > pleasant task. You are an artful, sensitive gal with a big

heart

> > > which makes it harder. I try to look at all the people in my

> life

> > as

> > > family...and some will come and some will go. Looking at ALL

of

> > them

> > > as family can take the pressure off of you as you weed. One

> thing

> > > that I've taken note of since PA became such a big part of my

> life

> > > is that not only have I lost some folks that I THOUGHT were

> > friends,

> > > but I have actually gotten CLOSER to some people who were not

> what

> > I

> > > thought of as good friends. I think some of this is due to the

> fact

> > > that we all have different " caring styles " and abilities. Some

> > > people are gifted in caring for those in need. One particular

> lady,

> > > the aunt of my x husbands brother's wife (my sister in law's

> aunt),

> > > was always kind to me at Thanksgiving dinner and birthday

> parties

> > > and graduation bashes and the like. We would talk and laugh

and

> cut

> > > up and share stories but did not keep in touch between

parties.

> It

> > > wasn't that we had no desire to keep in touch. There just

wasn't

> > any

> > > NEED to. Then I became needy. And BAM. Aunt Lillian was right

> there

> > > for me....encouraging cards with poems, sayings and verses on

> > little

> > > pieces of paper for me to keep in my wallet...a little cash

now

> and

> > > then when was in the hospital and she knew I would need

> gas

> > > money...special emails to see how I was doing....Aunt Lillian

is

> > > gifted in caring for those in need. As a result, our bond is

> > tighter

> > > now. There are others like that. I'm sure you have them too if

> you

> > > think about it. Those are your prized roses. Some of our

plants

> we

> > > grew from seed. Some we just purchased already partially or

full

> > > grown. All of these make our garden beautiful and pleasing.

Some

> > > plants give us food, some are just for looks...all are good.

> > > Ah...but now and then, one that we once loved gets too big and

> > > starts to choke out the others and it has to be cut back or

dug

> up

> > > and put into the compost pile where it becomes food for the

> others.

> > > That's how you get to use your hurt and what you've learned to

> help

> > > others grow. So keep on gardening Honey....you know what to

do.

> > Keep

> > > your hands in the dirt and the Son on your face. -Betz

> > >

> >

>