It was a bad day.  Nothing was going right.  My boss came by my desk, dropped a stack of papers and said, "It's not your best work, do it again!"

Three months of work down the tubes - that was it!  I just wanted to quit.  Why was I busting my bottom at this thankless job?  I'm not married, I don't have my own family, hell I don't even own the apartment I live in.  I deserve so much better.

I glanced out the window and realized I wasn't the only one having a bad day.  Traffic was backed-up and the relentless drought forced the once lush landscape into a pale, dying brown.  There was nothing good about today - I had to do something.  I picked up the phone and called home.  Mom answered with her usual hello; she always says it in such a way that makes you believe everything is fine.  I told her I'd like to come home for dinner because I had some "things" I need to talk about.  She was thrilled I was coming home (she always is).

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I set out for home.  I was bored with the radio, bored with the scenery and bored with my life.  The landscape was dying, and my career was dying.  In many ways I believed I was dying.  I decided to tell the family that I was dropping out of corporate life, I was going to quit my job and move home.  Maybe I'd go back to school.  Maybe I'd get a part time job.  Whatever I did would be better than today.

I rounded the corner of my old residence and saw green - Mom's azaleas standing tall in a sea of withering life.   But then, I really  wasn't surprised they were green, Mom always takes such good care of people and things.  Being home was where I needed to be.  Things thrive at home, I thought.

Mom ran out to meet me, it was as if she hadn't seen me in years. She's always so happy.  We almost made it to the house when Mrs. Lolley (the neighbor) called us over to the hedge.  I thought, "I don't have time for this neighborly chit-chat," but I smiled at the neighbor nonetheless.

She asked, "Mrs. Holmes, how do you keep these azaleas so green? Mine are dying and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do."

Mom put her arm around my waist, and said, "I raised these azaleas like I raised my children.  I knew I may not always be around to take care of them so I didn't pamper them too much.  They had to grow deep roots to survive - they take care of themselves."  We laughed, but  my laugh was as dead as the grass.

Just as we were out of ear-shot, Mom asked,  "What are these 'things' you have to work out?"

I thought for a moment, looked her in the eye and said, "Today was a bad day, but I know what I have to do."

She winked and said, "Then get in the house - your supper's getting cold."