Day by day I am changing my lifestyle. Although I would NOT term myself an ordinary couch potato, I would describe myself as an intellectual sweet potato. My lifestyle has been sedentary, since most of the time I am at my computer photo editing, checking out Facebook and whatever else distracts me. The reference to the sweet potato is because I really am sweet (most of the time) and secondly I eat A LOT of sweets, everyday. Intellectual... well, I think a lot and given Mirriam-Webster's definition 2a : given to study, reflection, and speculation, intellectual is a good description of my potato status. Walking has increased my general energy level and now I feel like doing more. So today's great adventure; harvesting star fruit and tangelos from the trees in my yard. Now I am sure when you read the last few words you did not imagine the story that I am going to tell you. First of all, I am prissy and can't stand to get dirty. The neighbors were probably peeking out the window when they heard my childish eeewww's (but at least I didn't say yuck... well maybe I did!) as I moved the rotting fruit that had already fallen from the tree. This was work! I had to get a rake, move that all out of the way before I could get the ladder in place to get the fresh starfruit down. I climbed that ladder, started picking and thought, "Forget this" and started shaking the tree so the fruit would fall out. I was making quite a ruckus shaking the tree, the birds were squawking because this had never happened before, and I let out a few, "Owws" as the shower dropped fruit on my head. (Caught me of guard). Then I noticed I was doing all kinds of maneuvers I haven't done since I was, well, really young and my heart rate was up.
Thankfully, the tangelo tree is in the back yard, so I had a new audience. I was concerned my neighbors were alarmed because I haven't been actively in the yard for more than a few minutes to quietly put up a Christmas wreath and sit out some potted poinsettias. The tangelo tree (at least I think that's what it is.. the fruit tastes like a tangerine but smaller) was more of a challenge. I thought I could use my last strategy of climbing up the ladder, shaking the tree and have the orange fruit fall but nooo. I climbed to the top of the ladder, thought better of standing on the very top, grabbed a branch and shook really hard. Some fell but nothing like the star fruit tree. I made a few attempts, went up and down the ladder a few times, moving it to different areas, but not much success. Then I started feeling like the monkey that just doesn't give up! Maybe this tool will work!! I took the rake, climbed the ladder, swatted at the branches with the oranges, that didn't work, so then I tried using the rake like a fork to get the orange stuck between the prongs. Still no success. I gave the shaking one more last try, I think I was aggravated so I might have used a little more force. As I was getting ready to give it a good shake, I saw a bird on the roof of the house gaze at me and I wondered what it was thinking! Then I said to myself.. Now I know why people by bags of oranges, even though they have a tree in the yard.
Later on I went for my walk. It was a routine walk down my street to the park and back. The sky was beautiful, as there was a crescent moon and stars shinning. When I got to the bay area the smell of the water was relaxing, it felt so good to take a deep breath in. Now you know, when you walk the same street all the time, you take things for granted.. thinking about this and that, but on my way back I saw another cute little house that had three orange trees. And do you know those trees were my height! No ladder needed. No making a scene shaking tree limbs. That is my kind of tree. If I had one, I would gently pick those oranges off and carefully place them in a beautiful basket. Enough of imaginings, I got an excellent work out from today's adventure. Since I am already a little sore, I'll let you know how I feel tomorrow!
~ Elizabeth
No comments:
Post a Comment