It’s been a bit since I’ve shared some thoughts with anyone who might be interested. I realize holidays bring different meanings to different people, but I find they cause me to reflect more than anything else. I am not naïve to think my words might change someone’s life. For those of you who know me you probably realize that I have this rambling style which eventually circles back to hopefully some point. I look at my little brother who has a very successful career as an intellectual property attorney. I can’t help but wonder if he would have been happier as an architect. My eldest brother was highly intellectual and touched many lives as an educator and administrator in various capacities. Sort of feel like he would have needed one nanosecond more in the wrist to become a professional drummer although there were times where I felt he would have traded places with me as he loved gardening. Then there’s my brother Jeff. He’s just happy being Jeff. Wouldn’t we all strive for that. This brings me to myself. I was so fortunate to choose a career that I loved. I invested a lifetime of hard work, education, hard knocks to become a self-proclaimed dinosaur in my industry. Never visualized myself as an older statesman in horticulture, but I suppose the passing of time will do that. Yes, there were some career choices in the back of my closet as well. When DJ’s used to spin LP’s I would have loved to have been on the radio. Always loved music (thanks Sid). I think more than anything else I would have loved to have been a writer; all those 4.0’s in creative writing gave me a false bravado. So to those of you who might endure this feel free to bail anytime, I won’t be offended.
I have no idea how many trees and shrubs I might have sold in my lifetime. I would look at other people saving lives, educating the young, caring for anyone who needed help and would try to justify my importance relative to the rest of the world. We (all my fantastic employees and myself) are aware we bring some happiness to consumers with the product we sell. We most definitely improve our environment working in the green industry. There is the personal satisfaction I get by shipping plants to some cool places. Did you know we provided trees for Liberty Island? Once upon a time we shipped a tree (yes one) to the New York Botanical Garden. And of course the many municipalities and cities in New Jersey. Shout out to the New Jersey Tree Foundation and all those municipalities and parks who involved us in their projects. Newark, Camden, Trenton, Nutley, Madison, Grover Cleveland Park, Liberty State Park, and so many others. This gives me great pride and appreciation to be involved in so many meaningful projects. Additionally for so many talented Landscape architects and designers to elect to use us for their projects is never taken for granted. Of course there are the consumers (so many of you) who have come to us. I often feel quite lucky to have customers willing to trudge through mud to get that one plant whether it be a Sciadopitys, Pinus Bungeana, or that amazing Tiarella you’ve been looking for. So I think it appropriate that I give a huge THANKS to all of you who have elected to use us for your horticultural needs over the years.
Circling back to the folks delivering vaccines to remote locations, scientists developing vaccines, care givers (you get the idea) how can I possibly measure up? I take enormous pride in employing 35 plus wonderful people and having done so for years. I’ve seen children being welcomed to the world, houses purchased, degrees obtained, marriages, and so much more. Our miniscule contribution to the economy has brought me some satisfaction. Not only do I like to fashion us as a meaningful supplier to all of our customers, but as a good customer to so many nurseries, our trucking partners and so on. I have a brother in North Carolina, a brother in Oregon, and one in Mahwah NJ (as well as others). I am so grateful for all the relationships I have developed over the years. Words cannot express the joy I have gotten from this industry.
So I’ll leave the espousing of opinions to others. I will simply say that I am grateful to all of you who have touched me in this industry as well as my wonderful family and friends. I will enjoy coming to work everyday as long as I am able and hopefully that’s a good long while. We all need to look within and think not about what we might want, but rather cherish all that we have and that is good. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Health and happiness.
Cheers