Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Sugar Tip Sabrina

I have a friend, Sabrina who lives in San Diego. Her husband Vince who was also a very dear friend passed away 6 years ago from cancer. When he was first diagnosed and his cancer labeled terminal he and Sabrina decided to plant a Rose of Sharon which later became the center tree in the Memorial Garden in her backyard.  This garden is located near a fence at the back of her yard which is the barrier between her and a road that leads to other neighborhoods and a school.  Sabrina keeps her yard and gardens beautifully manicured and green. She picks up after her dog and even cleans up after the three feral cats who find sanctuary in her yard on occasion.


Sabrina is a gentle woman who will share everything she owns and will help anyone who asks. She is quick to forgive and has amazing stamina and courage. Vince had an enormous capacity to find humor all the time in everything. He would tell stories about Sabrina but embellish them in such a way that she seemed to possess superhuman qualities at times. They had met in Okinawa. Her father was stationed there as was Vince. They were married and served out a full career in the Navy. Vince and Sabrina retired in San Diego where Vince became actively involved in the community.


After Vince passed from this world to another adventure in the next Sabrina worked and dug and planted and created the beautiful Memorial Garden that exists in her back yard today. She emailed me yesterday extremely upset and now so am I. She went out to work on the garden plucking at a random weed, cutting a blossom here and there, spending time on the bench under the shade of the Rose of Sharon when she noticed a plastic bag under the tree. Part of which was snagged on the bark and ripped, the contents of the bag laying all over the ground beneath the tree.  She is all for people picking up after their dog but to then throw the bag carelessly into a yard you are passing by without a thought or concern for the person who owns that yard and the damage your selfish act leaves in its wake.  You threw your dog’s shite on a tree her and her husband planted while he was very ill with terminal cancer! Do you know? Do you care? Did you do it on purpose and have a good laugh when you got home? You did not want to be seen walking your goofy black lab carrying the bag of shite like you are the dogs valet and not its master. Maybe you should NOT have a dog. What did that tree, that yard, ever do to you that you felt the need to defecate all over it? Better question what did Sabrina do? Even better what did Vince do? Served his country in the Navy to keep you, your family and your dog safe and free. So you say “thank you” by throwing shite at him? Where the bloody hell are you from? This is the land of the brave. Vince’s service record makes it clear he was. Your record now shows you are not! One word for you….COWARD.


What is a Rose of Sharon? What Vince planted for Sabrina is actually called a Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon or Sugar Tipped Hibiscus.  It blooms continually with blushing pink flowers that look all the more impressive because of the variegated coloring of the green leaves.  They can grow up to 8 feet tall and spread as wide as 6 feet. They are perfect for a garden center.  They are attractive to hummingbirds which happen to be an obsession for Sabrina and to butterflies.


The purpose of the tree was to bring a constant supply of life, beauty and peace to Sabrina, to remind her that Vince loves her.
                                 Sugar Tipped Rose of Sharon

That is all I am going to say about that.


Today is tasting day for my team for Gala. I will be travelling all over the area to grab various samples of carrot cake. Yes we will be having carrot cake at Gala  and toady we will be having lots of carrot cake. Wish I could have found a carrot cake cheesecake.

mmmmm….. Wish me luck!

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