| Elsie had long been retired and frankly, bored. Her | | | | get jealous too as Frank occasionally passed on |
| husband, Frank, played golf most days or spent | | | | playing golf and instead helped Elsie out in her |
| the time in his garage working on his old car. | | | | mini-greenhouse. They'd work diligently while |
| What was she supposed to do? Climbing into her | | | | making each other laugh and smile. Elsie felt in the |
| 70s, she was getting tired of reading, and | | | | best health of her life, getting all that exercise |
| television had lost its charm a long time ago. If | | | | while being outside and enjoying the fresh air. |
| only there was something simple and fun she | | | | Eventually the herbs were grown and the ones |
| could do that would get her off the couch and | | | | she and Frank weren't going to use were ready |
| get her outside. And you know, maybe she could | | | | to be sold. They put up flyers around the |
| make some money at it. She had never lost her | | | | neighborhood and soon the customers were |
| entrepreneurial spirit. | | | | stopping by, and leaving with a plant or two. |
| It was one day sitting on the back porch looking | | | | People were coming from the nearby streets to |
| at the vast backyard that she got an idea. Frank | | | | see the herbs Elsie and Frank had grown. After all, |
| frequently complained about having to mow the | | | | Elsie was feeling revitalized by these new herbs |
| whole thing in the hot sun. Maybe she could do | | | | and what they did for her health, both physical |
| something with it. She decided to grow an herb | | | | and mental. Maybe they could get these benefits |
| garden. It'd not only get her out of the house and | | | | too! Spouses or family members less interested in |
| put her skills to work, but also, herbs could help | | | | herbs could spend time in Frank's corner, swinging |
| Frank and her live a more natural and healthier | | | | a few golf clubs or checking out his 1958 |
| lifestyle. Plus she knew her neighbors would want | | | | Corvette. It became the center of the whole |
| to buy some too! Before she knew it, she'd be in | | | | block. |
| the herb business. | | | | That winter Elsie and Frank were relaxing in their |
| After paying Tommy and Timmy Fitzgerald from | | | | living room. Frank brought Elsie a cool glass of |
| down the street to help her build a | | | | lemonade, and they smiled and shared stories of |
| mini-greenhouse/raised bed, she got to work | | | | the previous growing season, of their successes in |
| planting the herbs. She decided to do a few | | | | the herbal business. After a moment Frank's eyes |
| culinary herbs and then a few medicinal ones as | | | | grew serious. "I think I'm going to give up golf," he |
| well. She wanted to grow basil, chives, chamomile, | | | | said, furrowing his brow. Elsie was alarmed. |
| and St John's Wort. | | | | "Why?" she asked. "Well, maybe I'll play once a |
| Everyday she'd work out in her mini-greenhouse | | | | month. Frankly, my joints aren't what they used |
| while Frank labored over his car or practiced his | | | | to be. But really, I want to spend more time with |
| golf swing in the backyard. Some days Frank | | | | you. Next year's herb garden is going to be twice |
| would get a little jealous and come over and help | | | | as big and four times as successful, and I want to |
| her work, watering the plants and applying the | | | | help." Elsie smiled and so did Frank. They had |
| liquid seaweed to help give them the nutrients | | | | found a new passion they could share together. |
| they needed. Eventually, Frank's friends started to | | | | |