I Had No Idea
It's been a long and, I will admit, somewhat hard week for me, and that makes me wonder how those even closer to this tragedy are coping. Matt's obituary is in the paper today. Sigh. Most of all my heart is with DeDe, I think of her as I go about my every day workaday life. I AM thrilled that we raised over $20,000 for her though. Of course Go Fund Me will take roughly 10% in fees but once we add in what we have in the Busey account we are still at close to $20,000. More will be needed however....this will be a lengthy and complicated situation, so please, if you are able, give a little. I must also give my heartfelt thanks to, not only my friends that knew Mel, or Matt, or DeDe, but those that didn't, and still gave. You touch my heart.
Yesterday I had to work about half a day and I gotta tell you I was totally useless. My colleague Debbie kind of took over for me, saying, "let me do that" and kindly ignoring me when I said or did nonsensical things. I had been planning to possibly stop by the gathering for Matt at West Side Park but I was so exhausted and kinda felt that was more for his friends....I don't know...I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead I scored tickets to the garden tour so when Ernie picked me up we headed to the garden in Philo...which I'd heard was very special.
I was starving as I hadn't had lunch so I downed my first Lara Bar (THANK you Sue!) and good GOD it was good. I sipped the last of my iced tea as we drove through the corn fields and sighed and sighed and sighed. I had no idea how much I needed to be out in the country.
The garden was surrounding an old church that had been turned into a home. It was an utterly intoxicating place. Not a blade a grass anywhere, just a huge yard full of garden rooms....for herbs, lots of shade plants, so many spots to sit, walkways lined with rough branches or wine bottles (!). The brightest color was saved for in front of the house...throughout the yard there was copious shades of green....just glorious.
Does anyone know what this plant is?
I was thirsty so we stopped a Casey's in town and Ernie ran in to get some drinks. I sat there in the parking lot willing myself to get out of the car and go take a picture of the hollyhocks across the alley. Finally, when Ernie got back in the car, I said, "Can you pull me up to that hollyhock?" And then I didn't even take a great picture because I was laughing so hard at myself for saying, "Can you pull me up to that hollyhock?"
We went to another garden, but honestly, after that first garden, I just didn't want to see any others so we headed home. We had a quiet evening. We chatted with the boys a bit, fixed a pretty damn good dinner (grilled steak, with grilled romaine and mushrooms, mashed sweet potatoes, all drizzled with a mixture of olive oil, green and black olives, rosemary, garlic and salt and pepper. It was delightful. Then we binge-watched Nurse Jackie which I am absolutely loving. Eventually we tumbled into bed and I listened to Ernie fall asleep immediately. I laid there a bit, listened to the Brains singing Money Changes Everything, and eventually went to sleep.
I had no idea how much I needed those cornfields, that garden, and to be home and quiet. A good day.