“Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, 'It might have been.'” - K. Vonnegut

If I were to do some of this over again I would have studied abroad in college, I would never have had any pet fish, I wouldn't have bought those red Hush Puppies that I wore never, I wouldn't have worn any of the myriad of ill-fitting clothes I bought before I knew how to "dress for my body" and I would never have sang that mean song to Robbie in the fifth grade. The last one still haunts me. (I am so sorry, Robbie. I was a mean girl trying to climb the perennial ranks of popularity in grade school. The guilt runneth over). I wouldn't take back the hot pink and teal hair, the about-face I pulled on law school after my parents put down the deposit or any of the love I have given, regardless of whether or not it was returned in full (or at all). Since this is a blog and not a confessional or "couch", I'm keeping it light.

In my attempt to move beyond regret I turn to my garden as it is forgiving and to some extent resilient. It also continues to grow even if my attention to it goes on hiatus, unlike my self-awareness which makes little progress unless I implore it. Let's be real, it's the Hero Boyfriend that steps in with regularity to pick up where my interest has left off. While the grown up version of me still reels from the 11-year-old jerk version of me, my garden continues to turn over a new leaf with consistency and what appears to be ease. My plants make it look so effortless I just might turn my back on GOOP for supercilious examples of easy, breezy perfection. Don't worry Gwyneth you're still the Queen of Cleanse.

On days when my actions verge on neglect towards my garden the Hero Boyfriend without fail finds a way to get me outside to toss a few seeds in the ground or to pick up a watering can or two. I've tried to get out of my gardening responsibilities, the "it's cold outside" excuse however does not work in the middle of July, but when I have enough lettuce for a dozen salads and plenty more to giveaway or my first giant zucchini is able to feed six I'm grateful to have won one against "it might have been."

Below are some pictures from what has been a bountiful spring. No regrets here.

PS - The broccoli/cauliflower that I was so certain I was growing in my last post turned out to be this...

         Newbie Status: Confirmed. I had no idea I was growing cabbage.
 


 Turns out cabbage makes a good gift. I gave one to my satirically brilliant, ad copywriter neighbor friend and one to my boss.


Mint

From store (we brought home a few different varieties)




















To pot (all mint varieties living together)

















To Mojitos!