In spite of the fact that I have arthritis, I just can't help myself. I HAVE to be outside working in the flower beds and the yard in the summertime.

I'm an outdoor person. I guess it comes from spending so much time outside as a kid. My mother's favorite expression was, "You kids, go on outside and play!"

Of course that was in between the times that we were hoeing the cotton patch, taking food to the field hands harvesting wheat, or riding on the back of the bailer checking bails as dad put up the alfalfa.

Then there were those halycon moments all day long under the shade tree shelling peas or snapping beans.

Ah! Those were the good ol' days! I'll say one thing though. I learned early on the value of work. To this day, it is hard for me to waste time.

I wear sun screen when I'm outside, but I tan anyway. I bought new sun screen yesterday, going from 30 to 50. I have fair skin; but it must be my Indian blood, because I get as brown as the little coppertone girl in the summer.

I used to love my tan when I was younger. Now, I could do without it. The only way that is going to happen, though, is if I could constrain myself from working in the yard.

Don't think that is going to happen, however. It's my therapy. I can forget all my worries when I'm digging in the dirt.

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My mother said, as a child, I would play for hours in the dirt. Still do. It is therapeutic! Since I developed a mole on my shoulder, I've been cautious about taking my shirt off. Now I have a "farmer's tan". Better than cancer.

I used to have a lovely garden, but as an apartment dweller, just enjoyed cut flowers until this season, when I potted up some cute violas, hoping they would make it in my sunny south-facing windows. Glory, they are happily growing like crazy, blooming their heads off! What a treat!

It is great therapy.

comment by elderjane on July 4, 2009 12:38 PM ()

Always has been for me.

reply by redimpala on July 4, 2009 1:57 PM ()