While we’re waiting for Joe Biden and the Dems to do the right thing and nominate someone else to crush trump once and for all, let’s enjoy the Fourth of July.
A lot of troubling things can come to mind when you’re working in the yard on the eve of Independence Day, America’s putrid politics being chief among such thoughts. But a wandering attention span can be painful when you’re working next to the Old Rose; I have to stay mindful of its big thorns and not be careless with my head or hand movements. I’ve never seen such knives on any other rose, and for years it looked for any opportunity to rip me. Like I said, it is vengeful.
I’ve told people the Old Rose was angry because I transplanted it several years ago to make way for a driveway. Who knows how many decades it had been rooted next to the raspberries. To be dug up and moved next to the side of the house was an insult; it nearly died of anger, injury and maybe shame. Rose bushes, like cats, hold grudges.
The Old Rose is better, now, but I’ve been holding on to a grudge of my own, about our political mess. Joe Biden is a good man and he’s done a good job as president, but his showing in the debate was so shaky that I wish he would do the right thing and step aside. He’s too old, I’m sorry. The Dems have half a dozen potential candidates who would wipe the floor with trump, who is — repeat after me — a vile, buffoonish con man, liar, braggart, cheat, fool, felon, groper and, worst of all, a traitor to democracy and to our Constitution.
The yard is an escape from all that anger and frustration. To wit, as they say:
This dragonfly, which I spotted clinging to a day lily, was amazing. It didn’t budge as I moved in for closeups. After doing a little research, I wondered if had just emerged from nymph stage and was allowing its wings and legs to dry in the sun before helicoptering off.
The vegetable garden is looking good after an indifferent start. From left, those are Genuwine tomatoes, beet plants and a pepper variety called Sweet Heat. We’ve already eaten excellent lettuce, basil and French Breakfast radishes. Cucumbers and half a dozen tomato varieties will come on later in the summer, and some Japanese herbs, brought home in seed packets, are making their garden debut this year.
This dragonfly, which I spotted clinging to a day lily, was amazing. It didn’t budge as I moved in for closeups. After doing a little research, I wondered if had just emerged from nymph stage and was allowing its wings and legs to dry in the sun before helicoptering off.
The vegetable garden is looking good after an indifferent start. From left, those are Genuwine tomatoes, beet plants and a pepper variety called Sweet Heat. We’ve already eaten excellent lettuce, basil and French Breakfast radishes. Cucumbers and half a dozen tomato varieties will come on later in the summer, and some Japanese herbs, brought home in seed packets, are making their garden debut this year.
Dahlias on the top and an improbable zinnia on the bottom. In the center is a rose, also a driveway project transplant, that now grows to 10 feet tall every summer and calls out encouragement to its vengeful old friend.
The founders said it was self-evident that we’re all created equal and endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of blueberries for your cereal bowl.
Happy Fourth of July, everyone. Speak up, cheer what’s right, and vote in November.
Dahlias on the left and an improbable zinnia to the right. In the center is a rose, also a driveway project transplant, that now grows to 10 feet tall every summer and calls out encouragement to its vengeful old friend.
The founders said it was self-evident that we’re all created equal and endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of blueberries for your cereal bowl.
Happy Fourth of July, everyone. Speak up, cheer what’s right, and vote in November.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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