Rhubarb Central
I picked the first harvest of rhubarb for Dominique. 1 1/2 pounds of it. As i cut the stalks I could smell the slightly acrid juice of it on the air. I could also detect, just under that slightly poisonous fume, a little hint of why people eat it: a little refreshing tangy whiff similar to a citrusy celery. (I say that as though it made sense.)
While I'm still not convinced that I'm going to enjoy eating this strange plant, I will confess that it was satisfying to hold the stalks in my hand, there was a weight to the smooth stalks that spoke of substance. Not only that, but they are undoubtedly pretty to look at. The plant itself is quite handsome, so I don't mind having it reside in my garden permanently. I partly respect this plant in my yard because Ken and Betty Meyers planted it here. They are the couple who had this house built. They and their three children are the only other people who have ever lived in this house. I enjoy that. When I see that rhubarb pop up I think of them and the meals they might have eaten with it. I'll take care of it for them even if I don't acquire a taste for it myself.Besides, Dominique and Lisa E. both like it and I love to give my friends good stuff from my garden.
Yesterday was a mixed collection of hours in which I spent much of it in a very dark gloom. I went to work with a densely heavy heart because I let myself look up information about the war. But before I say anything else about that, I want to say that a customer bought two big Easter Baskets, and the last small one!! It makes me so happy that my baskets have not gone to waste. I really enjoyed planning them and putting them together.
I have a piece of information which many of you may not be aware of: The U.S. government has made it illegal for Iraqi farmers to save their own seeds. It may seem like a small little detail of no consequence when considering how many of their people we have already killed (a nebulous number, as I found out). Who cares about some seeds? What the law requires is that the Iraqi people buy all their seeds from approved U.S. sources. Want to guess what the approved sources are? Not from Seeds Of Change, that's for sure.
They are only allowed to buy seeds from those companies who sell seeds that cannot be legally saved. Those companies (huge corporations, if you weren't aware) who can sue you for letting a volunteer grow in your yard without paying for it. Seeds that are "protected" by law. Here's one link if you want to read more about it. If you do a search, you can find a lot of sources reporting on this one. Take your pick. It's not liberal hyperbole.
There is a whole lot more to this post that I have saved separately because I know no one will thank me for saying what's in my heart right now. I know that if I publish it people will be angry, indignant, hurt, and I will undoubtedly have to hear tirades that will make my heart even heavier than it already is.
Here is what I must say:
My country is not speaking for me. The troops are not speaking for me. Bombs and violence do not speak for me. Also: don't anyone tell me that our country is killing people on my behalf. Perhaps they do it on their own behalf, maybe even on yours, but not mine. My country has no right to involve my name in actions like this. I am a different kind of American.
I speak for myself. That's the kind of American I am.
Here is what I must say:
My country is not speaking for me. The troops are not speaking for me. Bombs and violence do not speak for me. Also: don't anyone tell me that our country is killing people on my behalf. Perhaps they do it on their own behalf, maybe even on yours, but not mine. My country has no right to involve my name in actions like this. I am a different kind of American.
I speak for myself. That's the kind of American I am.
