Why not?

This morning, my husband came into the kitchen, bagels and coffee in tow, and said "Why don't you do a blog about flowers?" And, truthfully, I had been toying with this idea for some time. I'm a good writer, or at least I've been told! I have stuff to say, right? I'm sort of funny (at least I think I am!) and I've got time on my hands. All great elements for a blog, right?

Next question? What do I write about? I don't have a plan like cooking all of Julia Childs' recipes in a year like that clever book and movie.

What I do know about are flowers and the ocean. Not necessarily always in that order.

Maybe a little background would be good. I was in the marine biology field for 18 years (unlike George Costanza, I was actually a marine biologist!). More specifically, I was a cetologist; in the field of studying whales, dolphins and porpoises. Really specifically, I had my own research center and was the chief naturalist for a big whale-watching operation in Massachusetts.

Now, I know what you're all thinking. You're thinking what every single person thinks when I tell them my past occupation. "WOW! Cool! Neato! Awesome!" Am I right?

The unfortunate reality was that I ended up being a people manager and dealing with tourists. Not what I had dreamed about, oh, so many years before. I had envisioned myself on a private research vessel, out to sea for days on end, communing with nature.

Ehhh, not so much. It was day after day of managing interns, scheduling, bookkeeping, maintaining correspondence, fund raising and answering the same questions every. single. day. I think one of the final straws was the day that I had spent hours "educating" the tourists aboard the commercial whale watch and I got this question: (In a nasal, Southern twang) "Well, hun, y'all told us a lot about them whales but ya never did answer this: 'Where do them whales go to lay their eggs?'"

I thought she was kidding. Alas, she was not. The whole mammal and giving birth and nursing the calves and everything else I had talked about for hours and hours had totally escaped this woman.

Then, there was the time that we had this guy on the boat, and every time the whale went under water, the guy would repeat, over and over and over, "C'mon whay-ul...c'mon whay-ul...c'mon whay-ul..." Over and over and over ALL DAY LONG! It was most annoying, and has stuck with me now 20 years later!

Don't get me wrong, I had some of the most amazing, incredible experiences with whales. I've seen whales and dolphins do things that give me chills! I swam with humpback whales in the Caribbean, I've been eyeballed by whales too many times to count, and I've seen pods of dolphins that stretched horizon to horizon. I have many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

So where do flowers come in?

Well, after the proverbial mid-life crisis which included a manic attack that lasted a week (no joke), I got into therapy (of course) and got out of the whale biz. I took about six months off from everything and basically began asking myself what on EARTH I was going to do next. It's a weird question to ask yourself when you're 41 and have done the same thing since your early 20s.

I have always been very driven, have always known my path and my next step. Suddenly, however, I was in very unfamiliar territory. What do I do? How do I find out what I'm supposed to do next?

Then, it hit me! What makes me as happy as whales? Flowers. Weird, I know! I was a scientist for almost 20 years and then, poof, a professional gardener! Gardening has always been a hobby, always something I've really enjoyed.

It's been three years since I put myself out there as a "pro" and my business is a minor success. I'd love to be busier and do more gardens and planters and flower boxes, but I'm afraid that when the economy goes sour, flowers are one of the first things to be sacrificed. I'm hoping as the economy gets better, so will my business.

I guess I'll be talking about the joy of getting one's hands dirty, the smells of the seasons, dealing with clients, the folks at garden centers and the trials and tribulations of running a small business these days. I'll probably also be talking about life in general, friends, family, holidays, and, of course, my beloved dogs.

I have no idea if anyone will ever read any of this! If you do, I hope you'll enjoy what I have to say.