It's green

and yellow. Yes, John Deere colors. But the product itself does not appear

to originate with the John Deere corporation. I'm talking about the tag

that came on one of my new toys.

I am quite

fearful that I have been married to a tool man far too long. Here lately,

when I enter Home Depot or Lowes, thankfully I still go to the garden

area first, but then I head for tools.

I'm not about

to give up my butter knife, but I'm learning there are tools that make

one's life easier.

Spasms, especially

in my back and legs, have been a part of my health picture for nearly

20 years now. Spasms stop you in your tracks. They put you down in a painful

and frustrating way.

My spasms have

a history of hanging on for three days to three months. I'm into about

six weeks this time around and it's gardening season! But I will not be

daunted. Gardening season and life is too short!

I bought a

Weed Hound from Home Depot. The label says it's "your best friend

for fetching weeds!" IT IS! I saw it three years ago and did not

believe that label. What a shame and what misery I would have been saved

if I were not so cynical.

You just center

the tip of the Weed Hound on the center of the weed, gently push, twist

and pull. Release the control mechanism in your hand and the weed or crab

grass just falls off. Awesome! It's almost foolproof right after a rain,

but it actually works fairly well on dry ground, too.

Of course,

if the weeds are thick and you need something more I recommend a Weed

Popper. Totally different manufacturer. Totally different product too.

Again, mine came from Home Depot.

Both products

are designed in such a way that they make decent props if you get brave

enough to bend over. They also are sturdy enough to push yourself back

up if you are really gutsy and bend or squat.

I cannot work

in my garden at will, but during the good hours, and they do come some

days, I can work for a few minutes now with my new tools. I am a happy!

I know because

of your correspondence with me that many of you have disabilities as well

that tend to cramp your lifestyle and limit your activities. I encourage

you to go shopping.

I finally swallowed

my pride and asked for a walker which has the potential for becoming my

really good buddy. Most of the time however, I use this awesome stick

that would make old sheriff Buford Pusser jealous. I figure Teddy Roosevelt

would even turn green.

Daniel found

the stick at an old beaver pond about 20 years ago and we've used it for

hiking ever since. Now I use it to assist with many activities and just

to help me get off the bed on a really bad spasm day.

I bought my

walker at Absolute Medical in Fayetteville where the folks were awesome

to deal with. I encourage you to drop by there or some other medical supply

shop and look at products or catalogs. You would be surprised at what's

out there now that can make your life more livable.

If you are

a gardener, then the next time you drop by your favorite home improvement

store check out the garden tools department. And if you are not a gardener,

then consider becoming one. The planet could use your intervention and

it's extraordinarily therapeutic.

There's nothing

quite like seeing that first bloom of the season, picking that first and

last tomato of the summer, or having your own herbs just outside the back

door. And salad greens tucked neatly into a flower bed are not only pretty,

but can dramatically complement many settings.

Life is good

and pain has no right to rule over any of us. You know, none of us can

really control how long we are going to live, but we have a world of control

over how well we live.

Eat a fresh

vegetable today and whisper a prayer for the one who produced it for you.

Smell a flower. Hug somebody. Smile with your face, your whole body, even

your voice (Did you know you can hear a smile in the sound of a voice?).

Laugh loud, full and often, and be glad that life is good!

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