Yes, it’s time to say goodbye to the summer, and it’s about time. October is my favorite month of the year. The 10th month of the year provides chill nighttime temperatures for a relaxing sleep. During the daytime, the temperatures have been in the 70s, sometimes reaching the 80s, making it perfect for a walk-about and admiring the trees, which have yet to drop their leaves.
Enter Jack Frost. Okay, we are still waiting for his appearance. Sure, some of the outside vegetation froze, but inside the high tunnels, it’s like summer continues.
I am totally ready for summer to end. No, I am not looking forward to deep freeze temperatures, but what’s more glorious than crisp fall days?
And, maybe a good hard frost followed by an extended summer would be divine. My garden needs to be cleaned out. I am alone in this task once again, and to say it’s overwhelming is an understatement. In fact, as I was digging potatoes, I thought to myself, “How did I ever do this by myself?”
With the garden put to bed, I could start on some Christmas gifts or another jigsaw puzzle. But my cancer, or the treatment, still prohibits working long days without adequate time off between.
So, I asked for help while feeling helpless and needy. So I prayed for strength for the day and drew some boundaries as to what I could accomplish with the help of a few friends.
And then. With a day’s notice, a friend of mine called and said to expect a call from the University of Mary. And then she checked back with me to see if anyone had volunteered to help.
Had they showed up? By that time, they had been working for an hour, appearing in my driveway an hour or more before I expected them. Four freshman occupational therapy students, not knowing really what to expect. And, they stayed for nearly three hours.
I worked alongside them as best as my strength allowed. I heard their screams and laughter when they discovered carrots and potatoes I had missed digging yesterday. I told them they keep what they dig, it’s all good. So, they kept working.
The greenhouse hasn’t been this clean since it was built. What a blessing.
The outside garden has been cleared of plant debris and slightly dug up for the potato treasure hunt. The hoses are rolled (most of them) and stored. They loaded a trailer full of junk for the landfill.
Those four young ladies thanked me over and over and over again for the vegetables, flowers, and dried zinnia and marigold seeds. When in reality, it was I who was overwhelmed with gratitude.
I feel like I can leave that garden of weedin’ behind and focus on some more pressing issues (including cleaning my house) and attending a farmer market conference the following week.
All I can say is, “Who says God doesn’t answer prayers?
Those girls said, “When can we come back?”
And, I? I will probably not be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning.”
INDYchildrendotme 
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