Growing Seasons

Within the past two weeks, we here in USDA zone 7b witnessed quite the growth spurt in plants and trees. The leafing out nearly complete, and then the newest greening as if somehow the vegetation was spiked by some super-secret alchemy—most likely just more sun and plenty of rain. Warmer, too.

I more easily notice the change in the neighbors’ trees and bushes. A quickening that brings fresh leafy greens to the end of branches and stems. Only when I am next door to I appreciate more fully what is going on on my side of the fences. 

An evening conversation last week called up my stint with 6-8-year-olds in a 2^nd/3^rd class I taught in ’79-’80. I noted how I needed to generate a whole different level of patience than my 26-year-old-self brought through that classroom door. And pronto.

Then we switched the focus to the high-schoolers. I voted for juniors as my favorite students purely from the standpoint of teaching, the changes that took place, the second semester blossoming for so many. Maybe the driving more, the dating, maybe working, but something seemed to happen post-holiday break that shot them forward.

Of course, the seniors offered their own rewards—not only academically—reality checks were coming due for them, the countdowns to a finality, a last walk out the door, a bigger beginning looming. Great stuff.

More and more, and not so much as a joke, I speak of this being my 3^rd growing season here. Not such a bad way to ground where one stands.

On both sides next door, two kids each. They range from 5-9. Most folks know what kinds of changes I have seen in them with the passing seasons. 

Often I see parents post photos of kids for a birthday and include pictures from previous years, and often the commentary runs along the lines of “Slow down” or “Growing up so fast”. Yep, they are weeds. In a good way. 

Somewhere along the way—can’t give credit where due, unfortunately—someone offered up this thought as a perfect gift for a child: Take your time. A kind gesture to the child, no doubt. A plaintive phrase for parents perhaps.

But, it’s growing season.