Barbara's February Flower
b'Once upon a time, many, many years ago, I was cutting down a pine tree in my most manly way, and my ax split off a small chunk of wood that had a smaller plug inside. You know how a hot dog looks in a bun? That\'s kind of what it looked like. It was... unusual. And it smelled wonderful...it was pine. \\n\\tSo I gave it to my Lady Wonder Wench. She still has it on her dresser all these years later. She keeps treasures like that...shells from various beaches we\'ve visited on vacations we\'ve enjoyed...a very old shirt of mine that she used to wear at night when I was away on business...A Christmas poem I wrote for her, many Christmases ago...a ring I made out of the top of an old snap top soda can. They\'re like 3D selfies of the times of our lives. \\n\\tI\'m pretty sure I found something to add to her collection yesterday. The smart guys in the white lab coats call it an Eranthis Hyemalis. But I just call it Barbara\'s February Flower because Barbara is my Lady\'s name. Barbara\'s February Flower is a tiny bright yellow flower...about the size of a dandelion. And I found it growing next to our driveway yesterday. In order for you to understand why I think she\'ll find a way to keep it, you need to know that I\'m recording this podcast near the end of February...in Pennsylvania. As in it\'s so cold you could freeze an egg on the sidewalk. And please...no more snow. You say, "Hello" but nobody hears you because the words freeze and fall down on the sidewalk.'