An American flag flaps in the wind surrounded by Palms, Banyans and Banana Trees.
Scott is wandering around his yard as though he's lost and doesn't know what to do.
Wearing a heavy grey sweatshirt with GEORGIA spelled in bright red and blue pajama bottoms, he drops to his knees and digs in the dirt.His hair is long, grey and unwashed draping his shoulders.
He's wearing bedroom slippers.
Scott has terminal cancer but damn if he isn't out planting something!
Out of death comes life.
His cat follows him religiously.
Many mornings the cat disappears and Scott feebly wanders out and whistles until they reunite.
Grabbing a shovel he digs up banana plants and replants them... rearranging his yard ... rearranging his life ... or what's left of it.
Our neighbors claim he's crazy as a loon but I've always liked him and we sometimes have pleasant conversations about nothing.
He has to stop and repeatedly pull up the pajama bottoms but he's determined.
He's living longer than the projections and I marvel he's outside ... pruning.
I have no idea how much life I have left but I already know it's not enough.
Hell Sarah and I just arrived and I'm in no hurry to leave her.
Who knows?
I could drop dead before finishing this sentence.
Whew!
I didn't.
Thank God.
The wind picks up.
The American flag flaps.
Scott wipes dirt on his face and laughs.
Ashes to Ashes.
He's getting ready.
But he's not done yet.
Perfectly placed Banana plants are the most important thing in the Universe right now.
I have to go tell him how good everything looks.
Standing, he hugs the flagpole, pulls his pajama bottoms up and I burst into tears.
