I mentioned recently that I’ve been…weeding…the dry creek…and…I’ve made 
a lot of progress…but…right there in the midst of all the grass and weeds…is a zinnia…and…no…I didn’t plant it there…
All of my zinnias this year are volunteers…I’m not sure how that phrase got started…but…somehow…that always makes me think…is there a zinnia distribution center somewhere…and…they make an announcement…okay guys…we have a rather perilous mission…we need a nice pot full of you to grow over at this house in Alabama…you may or may not get enough food and water…mostly…you’ll be on your own…who’s brave enough to go…and…a few willowy leaves go up…and…there you have it…
Or…it could be that they seeded themselves…from the zinnias that were in that pot last summer…your guess is as good as mine…
Anyway…there is a nice large pot filled with zinnias in various stages of development…several with buds…and…then…there’s this little guy…right in the middle of the dry creek…that is blooming…a beautiful shade of red…and…I don’t recall having one that looked like this last year…hmmm…
Bertha…came along…just as I finished the weeding…and was admiring the blooming zinnia…she said it reminded her of an old saying…
Well…I thought I knew exactly the one she meant…bloom where you are planted…duh…everyone’s heard that one…
Of course…she corrected me…her old saying was…bloom where you are carelessly tossed by the wind…
Huh…
She went on to explain…that it is easy enough for me to bloom where I am planted…be it a job…or…relationship…or…some other situation…that I have placed myself in…even if it isn’t exactly what I thought it would be…but…the truest test of…blooming…is…those situations that seem to come out of left field…that I haven’t had time to prepare for…that just sort of suck the breath out of me…if…I can…bloom then…I’m a true bloomer…I’m a little zinnia in the dry creek…
I think I’m going to spend some time…in Granny’s rocking chair…looking at my red zinnia baby…and contemplating her words…
I’m not sure…how it will all turn out in my mind…it seems pretty important…somehow…but…one thing I know for sure…I’m not pulling up…that little zinnia…not by a longshot…
Jane
I ADORE THIS! I truly am right in that place right now & embracing it with all of my heart & all that I am! Bless you for writing so beautifully! x
Nisey…thank you so…your kind words touch me very much! Don’t you love that feeling…of…knowing…you’re in the right place…delicious…so happy for you!
Beautiful Jane! Really touched my heart…
Awww…Thanks…Cheri…my friend who is ‘planted’ in so many places…I’m still hoping to see you this trip!
I enjoyed reading this and identified with the thoughts in it. Now I have to sit and ponder it just a bit!
Thanks…Peggy…I wish you could contemplate in Granny’s rocking chair…it’s a great place to think!
I like this idea of comparing the blooms of flowers to our own blooming.. great post my friend!
Thank you, Christy…and…you are a whole bouquet of lovely blooms!
Just read your blog for the first time per Christy’s recommendation. Very nice!
Thanks, Patti! Christy has the best friends! I checked out your blog as well…great information…I’m going to check out some of the writing links. I hope you’ll visit again soon!
Love it. Such a Bertha saying and a truism.
Tasha…I call them…Berthaisms…glad to see you out and about…thanks for stopping by!