Postage Stamp Life
We planted a postage stamp-sized herb garden together. Basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, mint. In my mind, I tick off the pestos, chimichurris and marinades that I’ll make the next three months to top off fresh linguine, grilled ribeyes and snapper. And then, because he needs *something* to serve alongside his watermelon margaritas, we planted jalapenos and cherry tomatoes.
When he left for work, I swept up the dirt and imagined the kind of garden I would plant down South—bigger, better, maybe a little vulgar in its size and rainbow of colors. It would be a welcome change for the senses after muted, refined, tiny New York.
A few hours later I call him at work, very pleased with our domestic handiwork.
“I just tasted our basil.”
“What was it like??”
“Perfectly fragrant, just like my favorite spot on your neck.”
You make little moments of happiness in the city and then imagine when you can finally plant that big, bright, garish garden of your dreams.


June 10th, 2008 at 6:44 am
I am a misplaced Southerner myself, living in New England, and I can certainly agree with you. When I moved North after college, my mom gave me a stone tile that was inscribed. It read, “Bloom where you are planted.” How true! Congrats to you on blooming where your planted - even if its just a postage sized bloom right now…
~ Katie
June 12th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Love the “postage stamp” bit…