“Our Fairy Garden Mother”

by Stumblin' Jimmy Watermelon

his past Saturday morning found me stirring rather late. Seven thirty a.m. had come and gone. Finally dressed, or at least covered up, I opened my front door to step out and retrieve the morning paper from its usual spot on the lawn. There, laid in the corner of our covered front stoop, was a little package. It had been carefully wrapped in a plastic grocery bag, bound and sealed with a neatly tied bow at the top. How early it had been placed there I can only guess. As to who had left it, of that I am sure. It was our Fairy Garden-Mother and I’ll bet that a good number of other friends of hers’, many of whom may be house-bound by illness, have or will open their doors to the same pleasant surprise.

There comes with it no note identifying the gift-giver. She is too modest for that. Just the basket of (on this occasion) big fresh picked strawberries. Odds are that her list of recipients will take several days and trips to check through, but she won’t stop ‘til she gets to every one.

Off and on all summer and fall, Ghee and I and those many others will find on our doorsteps, gifts of fresh fruit or vegetables; whatever is being harvested off coastal or up-country orchard or farm field at the time. In between those times there’ll be a delicious surprise dish come straight from her kitchen, cooked by her hands. And if she ever hears of some utensil, tool or such that you may have had a need for, it will probably find its way to your door by Christmas (if not before). Every now and then we’ll catch her in the midst of her delivery and greet her with hugs and thanks. More often that not, once her treats have been found, she is long gone on to her next moment in a full day.

Now I’m not going to name her. Partly because all the folks that are recipients of her care and generosity already know who I’m talking about. Secondly, and I know this for a fact, she doesn’t like to be fussed over. She’s told me so on many an occasion. I’m probably ‘skating on thin ice” as it is by writing this story.

There is a third reason as well and I hope it turns this all to her approval and acceptance. It is that our Fairy Garden-Mother is one among many. They aren’t all in one place and, though it would be nice, we don’t always get to have them in our lives all the way through. They won’t admit it, but they’re special – angels on earth, if you will. What they do without hesitation or thought of self, we should realize as an example of what more we each could be (even if we only stretch that far once in a ‘blue moon”).

Through ours lives in this lovely little hamlet of a town, I’m sure they are scattered across this land and onto many other shores. Wherever and whomever they are, they spread the same gift. If you don’t think you’ve had your life graced by such friendship yet, keep yourself open – one’s probably not far away. Yet again, perhaps you just haven’t realized that deep inside you are one such soul yourself, just waiting for that catalyst which causes you to emerge. There’s such a thing as fairy garden-fathers too, you know.

Anyway, to all who know and appreciate such kind and good people and can’t quite think of how to thank them, I humbly offer this idea. Tear out this little story, and send it to them. Sign it at the bottom if you like. As for me, along with all else I try and sometimes fail at, I offer my deepest thanks to our Fairy Garden-Mother and promise to pass it on….