I name my plants. Bella was given to me when I left the tri-state area in 1995. A going away present while I was running away from unending love affairs and unseen, unsolved problems. Getting away and going away seemed to be the answers for what ailed me. Didn’t matter what that ailment was. Let me pack and bag and run. At that very moment. I have always been good at packing it up, bagging the current state of affairs and running away, but Bella hated the flight. She would rather I stay and fight and fight some more. She didn’t travel well. She dropped leaves and wilted with every mile. She barely survived my indecision when I made the decision to move seven times in the subsequent three years. With each packing she protested by dropping leaves and refusing to grow. Like bribing a child I promised her sunlight and plant food, a bigger pot – her own space to grow. Anything to make the new window in the new room better.
Finally, after the eighth move we have stayed in one place long enough to find happiness. After five years in one place Bella is finally thriving. I think she has forgiven me with flowers – for the first time ever.
~*LunaSea*~ 