The Lady and the plant

GARDENING has been a big passion of mine in sobriety. It’s become ‘my time’ where I can be still in my head and peaceful. True to form, it has also become a little obsessional and my garden has turned into something quite impressive, even though I say it myself. It was suggested others might enjoy my garden so a few years ago, along with a couple of others in the village, we opened to the public for one weekend a year under the National Garden Scheme. All money raised goes to charity so a big win-win situation. Having missed last year due to Covid, we eagerly greeted a steady stream of visitors, despite a rather damp weekend. On the second day in the afternoon numbers started to slow.

I went over to three ladies who were seated and asked if they wanted any of the food or refreshments we were selling. Returning with strawberries, I ended up talking about the garden. After a while, the one quiet lady asked about my unusual hanging baskets, made from indoor houseplants. The plant she particularly liked was the mass of Swedish Ivy.

I explained its name and then blurted out, “It’s also known as an AA plant”. Why on earth I would suddenly break all my confidentiality to a complete stranger was beyond me! Her face went white. Seeing her distress one of the other ladies explained she was going through some tough personal issues at the moment but asked if I would explain the AA connection. I told them the story behind Bill, our founder, having the plant on his desk, how cuttings were made following his passing, how a dear friend of mine had been given a cutting and had brought it back from America many years ago. He went on to grow and distribute many plants as I have, all direct descendants from Bill’s plant. 

The lady then confided that her 25-year-old son was in rehab and that she felt it was all her fault. Tears were shed and then I had the opportunity to share my experience, strength and hope about my journey in AA over the last 15 years of sobriety. I also had some AA and AlAnon literature I was able to give her. One of the other ladies then revealed her own situation regarding a family member (something she hadn’t talked about before). We talked for two hours then we hugged. I gave her my number to pass onto her son if he wanted and she thanked me, saying she now had hope that it was possible her son could have a new life and that it wasn’t her fault. 

I sat after for a while, everyone was now gone and the event over. If ever I wanted evidence that God was with me it was now. I felt a glow and a peace. The lady and the plant had made it a very special day!

BRETT, Alcester