Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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.

11 comments:

Helen said...

I hope Harold pulls through.
I once loved and lost a rose bush...

Annie K said...

I love roses, Helen and bought two beautiful bushes. Jon hates roses. My roses died suddenly. I'm very suspicious about the whole thing...

katdish said...

Okay...why would you name a jade plant Harold? I must know...

Candy said...

@katdish - because that's the name of the guy who originally had it - long story - check out the "Harold" link

Beth E. said...

Sorry about poor Harold. I'm glad he has offspring - Little Harry - to carry on the family name! ;-)

Deborah Ann said...

Sorry to hear about Harold. It boggles my mind to know that God's DNA is in animals and plants too! He made everything beautiful!

Blessings,
Debby

Chris Sullivan said...

Do keep us updated on he is doing

Sherri Murphy said...

You need to put a little annointing oil in the soil.

wife.mom.nurse said...

Poor Harold...poor you. That's a long time to have to say goodbye now!

Billy Coffey said...

I think you should move Harold to the westernmost part of the house, because the farther away a plant is from me, the healthier it's going to be. Let me know how that works.

Candy said...

@Billy - interesting, very interesting. I DID move him to the west and gave him a severe haircut, as in nearly bald. Within a couple of days, there were lots of new buds. I think I should rename him Billy, because he's been at this game of life for a while, but he's really only just begun to bloom.

Post a Comment