Vandalism

19 years ago

I finally got courageous enough, and temporarily secure-feeling in my job, to take a little over two weeks off earlier this month for a vacation trip to London. I worked hard to make sure my garden was in good enough shape to withstand two weeks of just basic care. A Japanese tour group was coming the first day of my vacation, but I had the place ready for them. What I didn't count on was that some idiot would dump a whole giant economy size bottle of dish detergent into the top of the waterfall that first day, barely a few hours before the tour group was due. So much for security cameras (pointing the wrong directions) and security checkpoints (none actually in the garden itself). The worst part is that it had to be either a member of the security or maintenance staff, since it was early in the morning. (Horticulture is there at that hour too, but everyone was accounted for elsewhere, busy with their own morning tasks.) Evidently, it was a heck of a job to clean up, and I probably lost all my lotus and waterlilies. I'm told it was a good thing I wasn't there, as I probably would have gone nuts. I spent all Thursday, my first day back, doing residual water cleanup. Now I have to distrust people in other departments as well as my own (I still half-suspect one of the other gardeners, but that's another story). It's bad enough dealing with the rock-throwing school groups running roughshod all over, and the adults often aren't much better.

On the other hand, almost all the fish survived, my co-workers hauled a$$ to put things right, and the museum director is pleased with how I'm maintaining the garden. Now if only it would get cool enough so I could start working on all my pines!

Fran

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Comments (7)

yama
19 years ago
Fran
I am so sorry to hear such horrible vandalisum . some of co worker helped you and the director of park reconized your hard work. That is good part of your life and soul .
you had bad time also found good things.
If you get honey all the time , you are not going to enjoy it . once for a while we get salt, lemon and pepper then you remember taste of honey better. without salt you can not have tasty dish either :) : ) :) . visit your freinds and have a beer or sake and have a good time with your friends and forget about it. Trust peoples and your co workers and keep enjoying your work.
Smile Fran ! Good things will happen to you :) :) :)........... Mike
yama
19 years ago
Hi Fran
I found word in Korian budduim book and like to share with you.
quote:
"why long life for a life free from hardship? "
such a life leads only to haughtiness and self pampering.
make worries and hardships a way of life.

anger is poision of our life......... mike
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Jando_1
19 years ago
Wow Mike, that is some pretty great advice. I for one will remember the taste of honey when life gets a little salty!!! Know wonder you stay sane when life pitches you a hard ball.

And Fran I am so sorry to hear someone would do that to your garden. But the fact that so many of your co-workers pitched in and saved the fish and did the clean up shows how they respected your work and cared about you and the garden. Who ever did this did not get the satisfaction of ruining the pond but instead learned how much others cared. That has to console you and keep you smiling.

Cheers Jando
yama
19 years ago
Hi Fran

Ganbare ! Fran
one vadalisum will not end you work nor joy of life.
many of joy follow after hard ship...... mike
coachsmyth
19 years ago
Fran
a man wiser than me told me that anyone can manage when things are going well. Only in a crisis can you judge how well your friends or staff really care
Sounds like yours care a lot

Cheers
Steve
FranVAz7
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks, everyone! Things are better now, and I'm able to go on to more routine tasks. Time to start worrying about shaping my pines, junipers, and spruces over the coming months instead of soapsuds.

Fran
yama
19 years ago
Hi Fran

Can we see your smily face now ? ...mike