Here they are, my Bonsai Family.  27 little Blue Colorado Spruce Trees in 17 pots in one windowsill.  These little guys mean a lot to me, it's actually kind of an interesting story, or at least I think so.

I went down to Miami to visit my friend Viviana a while back, I think it was back in January.  Anyway, we went out to eat and shopping, etc.  While shopping we stopped at a store called Urban Outfitters I think it was... it reminded me a lot of Faces in North Hampton, MA.  Anywho, I'm not a very big shopper so I got to meandering and I came across a display of boxes reading: "Miniature Indoor BONSAI Tree Garden." I thought... eh, why not?

The kit included one tub of miniature seeds pre-planted in a 'specially formulated' growing medium plus a terra cotta pot.  I was definitely intrigued and becoming excited about the whole idea.  At the time I didn't even really know what a Bonsai was, so I talked to some people about it.  Everyone warned that they are extremely difficult to grow and maintain... all this with a hint of doubt in their voices.  As if to say, eh, don't even bother.

Being the stubborn person that I am I bothered anyway.  I tried to stay on top of it, but I was fairly neglectful, these little guys had to do a lot of working if they were going to make it.  One of the steps required putting them in a dark place, so I put my little babies down by our movie collection with their little greenhouse lid on top.  

I totally forgot about them, then the other day I came home, completely exhausted in every sense of the word.  Too tired to work, too tired to think, too tired to even sit up.  So I fiugred I'd relax and watch movie, when I went down to pick a movie out, I discovered my little bonsaies had sprouted!!  A whole two to three inches!! They pushed that little greenhouse lid right off!

I was exstatic! All of a sudden I was full of energy!!  I ran to my room to get my little bonsai manual; next step "time to move".  Time to move them to the terra cotta pot.  The directions weren't too specific, so I called up my gardening guru (mom) and she informed me that I had to choose one, the best one, to transplant to the pot. One!?! ONLY ONE!!?!?  They fought so hard to make it... I couldn't just give up on the rest of them! So I ran out to home depot and bought 16 more pots (I hadn't counted how many I had at the time and 17 is my lucky number, ironically all 17 fit in the window sill perfectly).  My partner in crime bought me some potting soil at K-Mart and I was ready to rock!  All 27 have a home now.  They all look quite happy.

The symbolism of the bonsaies meant a lot to me.  In recent weeks I have rediscovered faith in Carrie Marine.  Much like the Bonsaies, Megan and I have had our obstacles to overcome, moving to the other end of the country, money, personal differences, etc.  But at the end of the day, we rise up and meet each obstacle head on.  Carrie Marine will do incredible things, just wait and see.

"Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you."

- Jeffrey Gitomer