Tomato Plants & Resilience

Last month I talked about my wife and her amazing tomatoes as well as her processes; how she starts in the fall drying tomatoes from her favorite plant, harvesting the seeds and saving them during the winter; then planting them in planting containers come the next spring (read article here).

This year she followed suit.  Up came the tomato plants, reaching for the sun.  I was so excited. 

March saw us take off for spring break, meeting the children and grandchildren in Florida.  Left behind with my best friend, Milo the rescue dog (he rescued me) and the tomato plants.  Arrangements were made for care of both.

Upon our return, we discovered a healthy and happy Milo, but deceased plants.  Apparently as the plants deteriorated, a master gardener came over on three separate occasions, but to no avail.  All of the plants were withered and dead.  I was crushed.  I thought the great tomato year was lost. 

Sometimes we have plans; then life happens.  It happens to very good people; it happens to very bad people.  It happens to the best prepared; it happens to the least prepared. 

So, what do you do?  Give up?  Walk away? 

I enjoy helping people put the pieces back together; to give hope where there is little or none; to give order where there is chaos. 

Back to the tomato plants.  We got home from spring break on a Sunday evening.  I discovered my wife had more of the “magic” seeds.  By Tuesday they were planted; by Saturday they had sprouted.  We were starting anew. 

I guess I was more than surprised at my wife’s resilience.  She didn’t give up and go buy already started tomato plants; she just started over with her own. 

So whatever life has handed you – deserved or not – have the resilience to start over.  And perhaps you will enjoy wonderful tomatoes.