The willow bush calls to me from its deep red branches as the miles fly
past. As I scanned the horizon for any sign of hope I am drawn to the springs
of glistening red, shocking against the all white palette. Here is nature in
her glory. The rest of the earth cloaked in browns and dreary gray and yet this
"red-headed snipet" stands against it all, showing off.
"Look at that" I say as it passes out of site.
"At what?" Tim asks
Sighing and thinking of spring I say "At the red willow, isn't it marvelous."
"Oh, yeah marvelous....humpf"
Enter "Tim" the week before Mother's Day 2009 5 months later:
"Over the years, I have proven poor at buying presents for my wife (something about actually having to listen to her when she says, 'Oooh - that is nice' so that I know what I should buy - or something like that - I was only 1/2 listening at the time). Anyway - many times my presents have been "ok" but not "great"....... However, this year's Mother's Day present topped them all!!
I was off in search of the elusive red willow. Unfortunately, our tree nursery closed down, so I was left to find a wild one to dig up. After talking to several farmers, I determined that most of them consider this stuff no better than a weed and that I could dig up whatever I found - so the search was on.
Last Friday (two days before the big day), I was off work and Sari and the kids were at school. I was going to do some work on my motorcycle, or on our camper, but it was -1 degrees outside. Since it was too cold to work, I decided to go dig up a willow.
Willows like water, so I started my search in the Souris river valley. After driving for a while I came to a bend in the river that had a ton of Red Willow bushes, so I stopped the truck, got the shovel, ran down the bank and started digging. Surprisingly, the Willow came out very easily (muddy ground) so in no time I was done and ready to go back up. That is when things went horribly wrong!
I was going to work on my Bike and camper - so I was dressed for that: work boots, big fleece coat, sweatshirt, etc. Unfortunately, I have had my work boots for 10 years and there is no grip left on the soles - worn completely flat - not a good thing on a muddy riverside!
As I started to climb back up the bank, with a shovel in one hand and a Red Willow in the other, I started to slip. By the time I threw the shovel and willow up and over the bank ahead of me, it was too late. I spun around and belly-flopped off the 4 foot bank right into the Souris River. Over my head - fully clothed - wallet in my back pocket - all by myself - 20 miles from home - at minus 1 celcius!
I scrambled up the bank soaked to the bone (think muddy and steep climb) - grabbed the shovel and the STUPID WILLOW - got to the top of the hill - checked to see if any cars were coming (b/c it would be embarrassing at this point to have to retell this story to a stranger on the road side) - got to my truck - peeled off as many clothes as decently possible (and then some) and started driving back to town.
On the way out I was thinking, "What if I have an accidental and die out here on the road? Sari will always wonder what I was doing going out of town this morning". How much more so if they found my truck abandoned by the side of the road and my body floating in the river a 1/2 mile away?
Anyway - got home - had a hot tub (b/c by now I am feeling a little hypothermic) - dried out all the important papers in my wallet and waited to show Sari this stupid willow.......
Enter Sari:
I arrived home from work to find Tim, looking like he had had a relaxing day. He smelled freshly showered as I kissed his neck, but then over his shoulder through my kitchen window were his boots and an entire wardrobe sunning itself across the back fence. Was that gotch on my fence? What on earth had he been up to?
"How was your day dear?" Sari slowly breathed out....not sure I wanted to know.
"Come and see..." he said, leading her out the back door.
A large pail overflowing with my favorite natural wonder sat just waiting for someone to find it a place to grow.
"Where? How?" I cried through tears. He had remembered.
"Let's not bother with the details just now" Tim avoided "We need to find a home for your gift."
The willow bush took hold that summer and every time I look out my kitchen window to admire the view it is there reminding of real romance.
"Look at that" I say as it passes out of site.
"At what?" Tim asks
Sighing and thinking of spring I say "At the red willow, isn't it marvelous."
"Oh, yeah marvelous....humpf"
Enter "Tim" the week before Mother's Day 2009 5 months later:
"Over the years, I have proven poor at buying presents for my wife (something about actually having to listen to her when she says, 'Oooh - that is nice' so that I know what I should buy - or something like that - I was only 1/2 listening at the time). Anyway - many times my presents have been "ok" but not "great"....... However, this year's Mother's Day present topped them all!!
I was off in search of the elusive red willow. Unfortunately, our tree nursery closed down, so I was left to find a wild one to dig up. After talking to several farmers, I determined that most of them consider this stuff no better than a weed and that I could dig up whatever I found - so the search was on.
Last Friday (two days before the big day), I was off work and Sari and the kids were at school. I was going to do some work on my motorcycle, or on our camper, but it was -1 degrees outside. Since it was too cold to work, I decided to go dig up a willow.
Willows like water, so I started my search in the Souris river valley. After driving for a while I came to a bend in the river that had a ton of Red Willow bushes, so I stopped the truck, got the shovel, ran down the bank and started digging. Surprisingly, the Willow came out very easily (muddy ground) so in no time I was done and ready to go back up. That is when things went horribly wrong!
I was going to work on my Bike and camper - so I was dressed for that: work boots, big fleece coat, sweatshirt, etc. Unfortunately, I have had my work boots for 10 years and there is no grip left on the soles - worn completely flat - not a good thing on a muddy riverside!
As I started to climb back up the bank, with a shovel in one hand and a Red Willow in the other, I started to slip. By the time I threw the shovel and willow up and over the bank ahead of me, it was too late. I spun around and belly-flopped off the 4 foot bank right into the Souris River. Over my head - fully clothed - wallet in my back pocket - all by myself - 20 miles from home - at minus 1 celcius!
I scrambled up the bank soaked to the bone (think muddy and steep climb) - grabbed the shovel and the STUPID WILLOW - got to the top of the hill - checked to see if any cars were coming (b/c it would be embarrassing at this point to have to retell this story to a stranger on the road side) - got to my truck - peeled off as many clothes as decently possible (and then some) and started driving back to town.
On the way out I was thinking, "What if I have an accidental and die out here on the road? Sari will always wonder what I was doing going out of town this morning". How much more so if they found my truck abandoned by the side of the road and my body floating in the river a 1/2 mile away?
Anyway - got home - had a hot tub (b/c by now I am feeling a little hypothermic) - dried out all the important papers in my wallet and waited to show Sari this stupid willow.......
Enter Sari:
I arrived home from work to find Tim, looking like he had had a relaxing day. He smelled freshly showered as I kissed his neck, but then over his shoulder through my kitchen window were his boots and an entire wardrobe sunning itself across the back fence. Was that gotch on my fence? What on earth had he been up to?
"How was your day dear?" Sari slowly breathed out....not sure I wanted to know.
"Come and see..." he said, leading her out the back door.
A large pail overflowing with my favorite natural wonder sat just waiting for someone to find it a place to grow.
"Where? How?" I cried through tears. He had remembered.
"Let's not bother with the details just now" Tim avoided "We need to find a home for your gift."
The willow bush took hold that summer and every time I look out my kitchen window to admire the view it is there reminding of real romance.
No comments:
Post a Comment