Weeding



A seriously weedy bed of carrots.



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I find weeding therapeutic. It requires little thought, and my mind can wander to the thorny topics I often avoid. Although I'm never truly finished the garden weeding, cleaning up a patch or getting to the end of a row feels like a real accomplishment. For whatever reason, it feels to me more meaningful than paying the bills, sweeping the floor or folding socks. Maybe it's just being outside.

Weeding carrots, though, is tricky. The seedlings are so small, so delicate, so fragile. I can't help but see the metaphor for children. The early months and years when they're so susceptible to everything is when we may forget to weed, or do it indescriminately. And even with the greatest care and attention you'll often damage them, or sadly, lose one altogether.