Our camellias started blooming in late March and only just stopped a few days ago, after five very intense weeks.
It was quite a year for them. I wondered how they pulled it off.
Somewhat shockingly, they were oblivious to the end of the world, which for too many reasons to list seems imminent.
Every day I went outside and they were having a party. It seemed like a lot, but it’s what they do.
But unlike parties with people, a camellia party is quiet, serene, and contemplative.
The trajectory of my life has been to crave one kind of party more than the other, followed by the reverse.
I realized that I had said so many words this spring, which had induced extremes of fatigue, injury, and exhaustion.*
*An exaggeration if my mother’s reading 🙂
The camellias didn’t want me to say anything.
‘Can you just shut up for a change?’
I said that it would be my pleasure.
But they were too busy being beautiful to notice.
