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Thursday, March 6, 2008

Oh, Aunty Em!

Factoid: The earth is, in fact, flat. I know because what seems like an eternity ago, I walked to edge, looked over and fell off. It has taken nigh on to three weeks to leave the alien regions and return to home, sweet, home.

O.K., so I got sick, again. . .stomach flu and the real flu (get a flu shot, for cryin' out loud!), sinus infection, ear infection, broken front tooth, and spectacular fall on black ice. I couldn't knit or read: too much 'movement'--or drive as that resembled an out of body experience: too risky--too much soup, daytime television, and the four walls.

For me in particular being sick always starts the wolves of depression circling, licking their chops, howling and swiping at my fragile grasp of reality. In other words, I was feeling f#)+!@g hopeless. I promised myself if I ever recovered, the first place I would go is the botanical garden at Como Park which I was meaning to visit all the livelong winter. I went yesterday in the bright sunshine and I chronicled my time there so that I have proof that after some dark nights of the soul, there really is a 'new day' and that spring will surely come again. The Marjory McNeely Conservatory. . .started in 1892. I found out that it is one of the last remaining historic 'glasshouses' in the United States. Full of many gardens it has a fern room, sunken garden, bonsai gallery, orchid room and there's a wonderful tropical rainforest exhibit. Besides the lush, colorful, aromatic b.e.a.u.t.y, tucked in at every turn was a bench to sit and take in all the sensory delights.
So, I think I visited heaven yesterday.




On one of the benches, this is what I read:


Never lose a holy curiosity.
Albert Einstein


From the sublime to the ridiculous, since all I did for three weeks was sit vedy, vedy quietly, and watched television, here's my favorite commercial. Just thought you'd want to know that. . .

8 comments:

Tom said...

I hate when them wolves are circling, the've bitten me once of twice in the past for sure.

Glad to see this beautiful place as lifted your spirits and drove them wolves away.

Sorry to here how bad you have been feeling I really am. Welcome back.. you have been missed you know.
Tom

Marianne said...

Well... I'd wondered.. black ice, eh?
and that dancing with those hungry wolves?.... I've got a pack of them as well.......BUT I wanna go there, to heaven, mercy, what a beautiful place!!!!!

Hee, I'd not seen that commercial, it's a good one!

Julie said...

I am so, so sorry you were ill. Three weeks - wow! You had about as bad a February as I had. Worse, I think.

I am feeling better now (never mind the loony post I wrote a few days ago). So glad you are coming out of your depression too.

Glad you're back in Kansas now (erm, Minnesota) and could make a trip to heaven. Loved all the photos but especially that of the fern (?) frond unfolding.

Hugs, Julie

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

It's wonderful to have you back. The glasshouse is beautiful, like a big, elegant, Victorian birdcage.

This winter has been the worst. My little ones and my husband have gotten sick in turns this week. Thanks for the pictures of the flowers, and that promise of spring, brighter days. We could use some.

Christy Woolum said...

I hope you are better. I struggled through last May and early June with an awful flu and yes, the wolves came and stayed at by my bed. I did get a flu shot this year.

anno said...

I'm sorry you've been ill. I found your site through suitcase-contents, and I am glad to see you back. This post with these pictures is amazing, remarkably restorative.

Judy Merrill-Smith said...

So glad you are feeling better! I have moved from the stomach yuck to a cold, but I seem to be improving a bit. Love the flower photos. I think "hothouses" are a requirement if you live in a snowy place! (Especially if most of the population can't afford to flee to a tropical beach in February.)

Granny Smith said...

I can sympathize, especially to the confinement of 4 walls! I think your photos at the glass conservatory are really gorgeous. It reminds me that we have one in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco which is almost identical in design. Aren't they both supposed to be patterned after the Crystal Palace in London?

So glad you are back!