Everybody always tells us military spouses to bloom where we are planted. Not always so easy, but something I’ve actually tried to accomplish. More success at some locations than others, but not half bad at the end of the day.
These plants and flowers are thriving in a tiny, unlikely space with less than optimal growth potential. Pretty inspiring if you think about it.
So the ideas of planter boxes, flower beds, mixed blooming pots and cut flowers really speak to my heart. It is as if those small blooms, wildly colored blooms and riotously growing plants are my friends, my neighbors, me. They are showing out even when conditions are austere.
But all plants require water. In the heat of summer, most require daily water. Remember this as I tell the story.
Our parking is paid hourly 8 am to 8 pm. So in the morning, it’s important to go down and pay the meter if Jerry isn’t taking the van to work. He reminded me at 7:45 am this morning that he was biking to work. Great. Thanks for that notice.
I throw my hair in a pony and put on a Margaritaville ball cap from our trip to Jamaica. Never did make it to the shower and I’m still sporting that pony and cap as we head out to dinner. So Americano.
I digress.
Realizing I don’t have any Euro coins, I decide to walk to the cafe to buy a cornetto so I can bust up a 20€ bill. They give me “the look” for using a big bill for a 3€ total. Whatever. That’s also another blog story. Grudgingly, they gave me the coin I needed and I started walking around the block to the van.
Remember that scene from Flashdance? (Do I need to insert a rating warning?) The one where Alex has water dumped on her in the big dance finale? At least she knew when she pulled the chain that the water was coming down.
However, I was unprepared for the water that dumped down on my head. Turns out those pretty planter boxes that I love to photograph require daily watering. And the sweet Italian nonnas don’t care who is walking below when they perform said watering.
Let’s just say that I really didn’t need a shower after that. But maybe it will help me bloom where I am planted. At least for today I received my watering.
Sorry. No pictorial proof. I was too busy hoofing it to pay the meter.
Actual scene of the crime. Just past where this also unsuspecting man is walking. Beware the nonna! Full disclosure. Photo taken hours later.
1017 Days in Italy 