I went to water the seeds in my plastic seed starter kit by the living room window and was delight to see that I am a garden papa. I am not a gardener by nature, or at least I wasn’t, but it was beautiful to see this first seed sprout – Maria thinks it might be a zinnia, just popping out of the dirt. About a dozen seeds had sprouted and we are filling two more. As soon as Spring hits, we are tilling the soil around the house. It is a beautiful thing, always, to see life sprout. A garden seed coming to life is not considered news in the other world, will not make it to any newscast, will not be debated by pundits or celebrated on the floor of Congress.

But it is big news, a testament to rebirth and renewal, to the cycles of life. I love my garden already, and it isn’t even here yet. But I guess it is.