a gardeness

We took the kids to a neighborhood garden tour last weekend. I was there taking mental notes. The kids seemed to wander around and play while Gary kept watch. We didn't think they were listening much. Later that night, I was outside taking down the laundry that was hanging near our ever expanding veggie garden. Shawn was walking around the yard, the dark night sky overhead, faint light from the window guiding our movements, telling me all about growing plants and how to care for them. He went on and on and on!

Then he paused and with utmost pride said, "Mommy, you know what you are? You are a gardeness!"

I asked, "What is a gardeness?"

He replied, "A genius of a garden."

"Or a princess, or an emperess, or a goddess," I thought.

Then we looked up at the stars for awhile. He was quiet after his horticultural discourse.

Suddenly he added, "Mom, want to know the secret of being a gardeness?  Never, ever, ever, ever give up. That's all there is to it."

And he threw his hands in the air and walked in to put on his Spiderman pajamas.