Death Stinks

If you've been hanging out here for a bit, you may remember Harold. He's nearing 50 years old and has been with us for over 30. He's far more than a jade plant - he's family. With our below-freezing temps, it was time to snuggle him in for the winter.

Sadly, I think we were too late. The frost hit us hard the night before. Though we brought him in while he still looked healthy (actually, Ron Burgundy brought him in and I supervised), his limbs are starting to brown and wither and I fear that he has seen his last days.

Jade is also known as a friendship tree, lucky plant, or money plant. Through the years I have been blessed with dear friends, a wonderful puppy named Lucky, and a good job. I don't see it as an accident that Lucky went to the Rainbow Bridge this year, and it now appears Harold might join him, or wherever it is that plants go to die. It is not a coincidence that in the past 3 months I have also seen 3 old (yet young) tennis friends go to Heaven's gates.

God is never surprised - I shouldn't be either. But the plans are His.

And Harold stinks. Stinks like death. As in compost. Unfortunately, his winter home is right next to my bed and it's the last thing I smell at night and the first thing I smell in the morning. This air can't be healthy. Compost was meant for the outdoors.

Harold may surprise me again. He's rallied before, just like Lucky did many times after being given his death sentence by the vet. But Harold's gigantic pot is cracked, and I can't find another one to fit him. Consequently his nourishment is limited, and I can't find the right way to patch a clay pot. The only saving grace is that he has an offspring in my kitchen window that is thriving. Perhaps little Harry will live on and carry Harold's legacy.

I'm just not quite ready to see him go yet. But that smell can leave any time.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."
~Isaiah 40:8

Tea today: cheap generic green from somewhere but it's good.