i said, "bring them back alive."

against my better judgment, i bought two herb plants yesterday:



you see, every plant for which i've cared has eventually died of negligence. [1] my initial thought was to name these two butch and sundance. [2]

then it occurred to me that almost all the plants that i've ever bought have been dead or dying. they're called grocery vegetables.

this improved my mood somewhat, so i have chosen more optimistic names:

reggie, the oregano plant, & rosie, the rosemary plant.

herbs and veg are funny. when they die, i don't feel that bad about it. maybe there's regret that it could have lived longer and i could have gotten more herb out of them.

in contrast, i don't think i could name deer that were about to be shot, or cows destined for the slaughterhouses.

[1] well, except one: i once drowned a plant. the pot was too big, i left it outside, and subsequently a downpour ensued.

[2] that wouldn't work, anyway. i already named my climbing shoes butch and sundance.