Saturday, September 25, 2010

Cheers, Prost, Salud, Slainte



On Tuesday the 21st, I celebrated the fact I haven't had a drink in over 20 years.

Drinking was fun for years, then it stopped being fun so I stopped drinking. Clearly a bit more of a story here, but that's for another day when we're sitting around having a coffee and a long chat.

The point is the garden. My last summer of drinking I lived in D.C. in a beautiful old house in Dupont Circle. And I had a lovely garden full of roses and lavender and other plants I can't recall. My then husband was in med school and was going to New Orleans for a summer program. Would I be able to water the garden he wondered. Of course I would I assured him, I had just opened a flower shop that spring, I had a cat to feed, a business to run, why would the garden pose a problem? Cat lived, garden died, slowly, not all of it , but it looked unloved. And I felt badly and always planned to get out there and water, but it didn't happen.

By September the husband had returned, the shop was popping and I still wasn't feeling it. But I had a friend, who had a friend and calls were made and I found myself with a new batch of non drinking friends who fit in perfectly with all my former drinking buddies. My circle was wider , my eyes were brighter and my fingernails had garden dirt under them again.

Now I have lived more years not drinking that I did drinking, if that makes sense. And though my garden is suffering from a lack of rain and severe summer temps, it is clearly loved and cherished as is every other corner of my life.

So cheers to that day in September when I put down the cocktail and picked up the hose and all the other details of my life. And thank you for letting me write about this here, it's a pretty big piece of the woman you know today.

23 comments:

  1. though i didn't think it was possible...i love you more today. thank you.

    ~janet

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  2. Cheers to 20 years, a beautiful garden, and a lovely lady xo

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  3. Congratulations, sweetie pie! So glad you're in my life.

    Have a wonderful day!

    S
    xxxxoooo

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  4. Slainte agust tu carriag!! CHeers to you and You Rock.. Well written my flower garden lady blogging friend. Sinead x

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  5. Do you think I could give up the books?

    Maybe then my garden would look better. Though it does say thank you to you as I have now dug out some weeds, moved some pots so they at least get the rain water and started a garden plan for the next few years! All thanks to your writings. You are my Queen of gardens. Julienne xx

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  6. Happy 20 years, Jane. What a story!

    xx
    M

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  7. Thanks for sharing, you are a brave and beautiful person.

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  8. good for you !!! i am happy to call you "friend". you have become a great blogging buddy to me and i cherish the friendship that we have created together....

    thanks for sharing...

    sending peace and happiness to you

    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  9. Dear Jane,

    Wow...congratulations!! Twenty years is a long time. You can be very proud of yourself!!!!!

    Wish you a happy weekend!

    Veel lieve groetjes,

    Madelief

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  10. My dear flower jane... congratulations for 20 years - you are amazing ... x

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  11. Love hearing that you cherish all the "corners of your life" and have soil under your nails - Jane, that sounds like a recipe for happiness to me. xx

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  13. Let's try this again. Thank you to all of you for your lovely comments. My heart is full and I feel closer to each and every one of you for your love and acceptance of who I am. And know of course I extend the same open hearted embrace to you all in your life's journeys.

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  14. HUGE accomplishment. I'm sure it has not been easy. Way to go! Congrats to you!

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  15. After Marie and Vince's wonderful story, here you are with a topper of a heartwarming one! Here's to many more - stories, friends and flowers.

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  16. I'm so proud of you. Takes a strong woman to give up the grape and take up the spade. Sorry I missed your birthday last week, so a belated Very Happy Birthday. Gosh, you've had two in one week. I like that. love.

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  17. Denise, You are correct, it was not always easy, but always rewarding.

    Karen, Your turn!

    Webb, Thanks, September is really my month,no? Glad you had such a relaxing vaca:)

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  18. Knew that you were special, glad you shared this! congrats xoxo
    Robyn

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  19. What a story. I'm sure there is more of it to tell, but it's your story and only you decide when and if to share it. Thanks for sharing this much of it. I'm sure it hasn't always been an easy journey, but you sound as though you're happy and content, now. And I'm glad for that!
    karin

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  20. I love the way you let us into your life, like a coffee machine, drip by drip.

    I have tried to leave this comment 3 times, but it keeps saying "No", i am trying not to take offence.
    xx

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  21. thank you for sharing something so personal with us... we love you and are soooooo proud of you!!!!! xx

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  22. What a lot of courage you have to share your triumphs. I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. You are a special lady and a wonderful friend.
    I have been mia lately, forgive me, i promise to be back on a regular basis.
    Enjoy a fabulous week,
    Mimi

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  23. Wow ladies, it makes my heart swell to come home and read these comments.

    What an incredible community we have here. I'm so happy to be a part of it.

    Thanks for opening the circle and letting me in.

    xo Jane

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