Ask anyone who knows us. We don’t rush into things.
We study the situation. We agonize over the details. We talk out the possibilities, mentally try out a series of “what-ifs”, watch the wind, wait for the stars to align.
We think of alternatives that delay further decisions. We come up with Plan A, then re-evaluate in favor of Plan B, then C…
Sure, we’ve been known to make impulse decisions. You only have to look at our overflowing book shelves and CD collection to realize that.
But some things take a long time to develop, and the longer you wait to start them, the longer you wait to enjoy them. Things like cheese, and cider, that need to develop flavor slowly, over months and sometimes years. Or a perennial bed. Or the asparagus bed that I still haven’t planted (being too worried all these years about choosing the wrong location, so never choosing any location).
Two birthdays ago, I bought M an orchard. Rather, a potential mini orchard of four apple trees and two pear trees. I figured we’d waited long enough, and after we lost our favorite Golden Russet tree to Hurricane Irene, it seemed a sign to plant a new one, and a few others while we were at it.
We should have bought those trees years ago. We should have planted them the summer after we moved the house. Imagine how big those trees would be now? Not full-grown, by any means, but…bearing fruit.
That which we should have done we did not do.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t do it now.
We had those trees planted a couple weeks ago. The nursery where I bought them was kind enough to let them stay there until we were ready for them. Then they came with shovels and strong arms and fertilizer and mulch, and they planted.
The beautiful part of having made a decision, having finally taken an action, is that you get the satisfaction of waiting and watching the gradual outcome: the soft layer of white mold developing day by day on the camembert; the regular, reassuring “burping” of the cider as it ferments; the tender branches of the baby trees spreading out, and the first buds appearing next year.
Of course, we’re on the brink of winter now, and the saplings have lost most of the few leaves they had a couple weeks ago. But I like to imagine below the surface, their roots stretching out comfortably for the first time in their own plot of land, feeling at home and settling in for the long haul, waiting on spring.
Grongar 
i loved this rebecca and i feel as if we are the same kind of desicion makers as you guys are. i needed to read this, i needed to acknowledge that waiting is also letting time go by that would have yielded results by now.
I’m so happy to hear this, Nadia. Start something now… 🙂
I am hoping to plant a few more fruit trees at the house we just bought. I want more citrus and perhaps a peach, plum, or apricot. I’ve never planted a tree before so I’m both excited and intimidated by the idea!
I wish we could grow citrus here! I’d definitely like to add some peach and plum though (there are some northern-hardy varieties). Plant more trees!
Beautiful post…makes me long for spring. I, too, let the weight of making the *right* decision get in my way and prevent me from making *any* decision. Luckily E is much more impulsive and can sometimes (only sometimes) push me into actually *doing*. 🙂
Thanks, Abby! I think a lot of us are like this. I feel the same way about writing/blogging, too, which is why NaBloPoMo is a good kick in the pants: write about something every day; don’t wait until you feel you have something really “good” to write.
That’s exactly why I’m trying NaBloPoMo this year! I had a manager who put words to the feeling for me–“analysis paralysis.”