IT'S OKAY TO PLAY IN THE DIRT NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE

 I have always loved digging in the dirt. Making sloppy mud pies, the feeling of squishing mud through my fingers. But best of all is the smell of wet dirt! I like to think it's inherited from my Grandma. She had an unusual backyard in Vallejo, Ca. It had a long, narrow patio with an embankment that was sort of steep. This didn't stop Grandma from planting a beautiful garden. She was an English teacher by trade but a horticulturist in her spare time. She also had lots of varieties of orchids which as a youngster was not impressive to me, I just liked to look at them. As an adult I have a new respect for this since I have learned more about the time and work it takes to keep them flourishing.

The embankment had little pathways worn into the dirt as she carefully stepped one foot in front of the other to tend to each plant. She would fuss over them, stooping to stroke a leaf, touch a flower or pat a strawberry. Grandma often talked during her gardening routine. One day I asked her "Who you talking to Grandma?" She said "Sometimes to myself, sometimes to God." My Grandma's father was a Baptist preacher. I liked it when she sang. She taught my siblings and I silly songs.

We were not allowed to be up on the embankment but I was given the most important job ( that's what she said). WATERING! Hooray, I loved it! I could hardly wait to get up in the mornings. No need for an alarm clock because the squawking jay birds would fight in the almond tree near the bedroom window waking me up. There was a special technique to watering. The hose nozzle had to be adjusted to different settings to reach the plants up high and put on gentle sprinkle for the ones close to me. I think that is where is started. After a few minutes of watering a gentle breeze would bring the fragrance of wet soil to my face. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Over the years I have developed a habit of doing the same when it rains and I am transported to the past in Grandma's backyard.

When winter is on the way out and the days get warmer bringing in spring I get this yearning to play in the dirt or as most people call it "gardening". I often sing, hum or whistle songs.

I now am a grandma and look forward to passing this on to my granddaughter. I will give her the most important job (watering of course) :-)

Thanks for the wonderful memories Grandma, I miss you.