u s e y o u r h a n d s

Today, the child planted his own peas and radishes and tucked the edges of the thermal blankets just so. I repotted tomato plants and tried to smell a California spring in this Midwestern chill.

Generally, I look forward to seed-starting season with every fiber of my being. During the long, disgusting Midwest winters (and this one in particular) I claw through each day knowing that at its close, I’m one day closer to spooning Organic Jiffy Mix into plastic cells.

This year has been different. This long winter was harder than most, with profound losses, sadnesses and sicknesses. The seeds can’t come up fast enough for me to climb out of the winter slide.

You can’t win when you measure success in millimeters and failure in miles.