My Tomato Plant, My Mother and Me

Posted on June 2, 2012 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

I felt like a Walking Tomato Plant

Good Day, God!

While visiting our daughter Sandy in Arizona, I was captivated by her cherry tomato plants — growing in pots! I had no idea you could grow them in a pot. The tomato plants were almost as tall as I am and were loaded with tomatoes.

So, God, back in Hawaii, I determined to look for a tomato plant at the Farmers’ Market this morning.

I was imagining buying a small plant. It never occurred to me that I could buy a plant already bearing tomatoes! But, there it was! Only $20 and it was MINE!

Of course, I had to carry it to the car. Peering between the branches I slowly wended my way through the crowds. Talk about limited peripheral vision! But, only one small bump with another shopper.

There is something very life affirming about growing our own food. I need “life affirming” activities right now, God. My 97-year-old mother is talking about death a lot more these days. And that’s hard for me. She is still doing well enough to beat me at Scrabble this afternoon. But I can feel the “Loss” creeping closer.

I used to tell her she couldn’t die because I’m too young to be an orphan! Ah, God. The days and years are long past when I ought to have been an orphan.

I have been given a gift of years, but my eyes are still filling with tears.