14 Comments
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Dr. Carole Rollins's avatar

Some people are dragon slayers. But you are a word slayer. I real love the concept of (dogs) being a “gym membership on paws.” Wow Maura — You word slayer, you!!!!

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Ron Goldstein's avatar

beautiful....

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Roberta Baskin's avatar

I’ve got plenty of weedy tangles to work through. But our new puppy, Gonzo, reduces the weedy chatter to smiles & endorphins.

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Maura Casey's avatar

Gonzo hit the puppy lottery when he became part of your sweet family!

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Roberta Baskin's avatar

I think we hit the puppy lottery when Gonzo picked us 🐶.

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Katharine Hill's avatar

Thanks for the walk in the woods, Maura. Pete looks a bit demonic from afar in the red but glad he is upright. Definitely one weed at a time in these noxious times.

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Maura Casey's avatar

So true!

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Margaret Holt's avatar

My weeds

Maura, as you always do with your writing, you again have caused me to consider how what you have shared applies to me. I definitely have weeds I need to pull out of myself with the hopes they will wither and die. Some of my weeds were inherited and date back farther than me, but they were transported, and I’ve allowed them to grow. Some are truly all my own, and I feel worse about them because they germinated inside of me. They are my own worthless and damaging creations. Pulling the weeds out by their roots is a struggle and consciously applying weed killers is tricky. Nonetheless if I am going to enjoy my personal life-garden, the weeds must be removed. If I fail, I know they will come back nastier and pestier over time, and they block the sunshine from reaching my soul.

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Carol Fletez's avatar

I loved this about yanking out weeds...real and actions and words we say...so glad to her from you. Reminds me in a loving way of the grandmother who raised us in effect and who could weed around her precious flower and vegetables!

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CYNTHIA DICKSTEIN's avatar

Yet another creative, thoughtful column. You are so talented! (and fun, too)

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Elizabeth Kaeton's avatar

A weed is, of course, a plant that is not valued where it is growing. Which is to say that it has value, just not where it is growing. Chickweed and Bindweed are quite beautiful, but you don't want them near your plants. They are a real nuisance. Which, I think, adds a whole varied layer to the whole weed-as-metaphor thing.

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Dr Deborah Vinall's avatar

Great reflections. I think the most tenacious weed in my life is too much screen time. It keeps growing back no matter how many times I pull at it...

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Matthew Staebner's avatar

I remember when you guys started your farm I enjoy still watching your progress from afar

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Bethe Dufresne's avatar

I love mindless but essential tasks - laundry, dishes, even weeding (I have no actual gardening expertise whatsoever). Time for reflection - you are so right, Maura. And, I might add, a great thing for writers who are always sorting out the next idea or next sentence in our minds.

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