and yes, the golden pig.

is anyone else feeling this pressure? it was a month ago, or so, that nicole called. i don't remember exactly what she said but it sounded like this, "year of the golden pig! golden pig! once in every 600 years! the population of korea is supposed to explode this year! golden pig! golden pig! good things! lots and lots of good things! luckiest year in the world! i'm going to san francisco to see the parade! i'll send you a postcard [no postcard]!"

and so i started to say things to people, because the year of 2007 just didn't seem to have the pizaaz, the excitement, the ring that "the year of the golden pig" had to it. january came and went. february, it seemed, had more potential as a starting point.

my mom took it literally and took to her history books trying to figure out if something world altering happened in 1407, a population explosion, a change in the weather, a cure for clutter, or maybe just a year of sweet dreaming naps.

(she hasn't gotten back to me yet).

i, however, am feeling a bit of pressure. granted, our magnolia tree, previously thought dead, bloomed. our nectarine tree, planted last year, previously thought very apathetic, has flowers. i have finally found success growing both parsley and basil (cilantro and chives, not so much, but i don't really like chives so much, so oh well). and i'm testing the golden pig powers by starting some tomatoes, cucumbers (cucumbers!) and strawberries.

so i will admit to growth and potential. and i will concur that the year of the golden pig is young, very young. it might still be a yellow piglet. i will also acknowledge that my very smartest professor once told me that this feeling of restlessness and edginess and the dark shadow that comes with a falling mood and the propensity for crying, that this feeling of 'oh no i don't like this' always comes before a period of change and learning and GOOD...

i will admit and concur and acknowledge all of these things. i will also confess to a heavy case of the nerves.