Harold Stemple was a lonely old man, who took up with talking to his favorite cactus like he was a friend. At first the cactus tried to ignore this bizarre behavior, quite certain that at any moment the aged ape would begin tasting him for one reason or another. But alas head tilts and jesters did not bring about any attacks, though there were some close eye examinations, and some occasional shaking and flicking.
Day after day seem to start with the same routine, and after a while, the cactus actually started learning a word or two from the old man’s vocabulary. This did not add to cactus’s comfort level though, because this was still very bizarre behavior after all. So the cactus tried to turn away, only to discover that it was root bound, and therefore unable to do so. Once cacti can not talk, the favorite cactus tried to think his thoughts to the other cacti of just how lucky they all were not to be the target of this unwanted conversation. And he was absolutely right, the other cacti saw no need for him to try and talk to them, any more than having the water provider, talk to them. So they too, tried to turn their backs to him, only to find that they too were root bound and unable to do so, as well.
It should not be assumed that the unsocial behavior of the cacti made this an unhappy garden. It was a happy garden full of life and blooms. Although, the petunias always liked to be talked at, even by untrustworthy song birds. But Harold had nothing but obvious observation about them, he saved most of his conversation for his favorite antisocial cactus, to the jealously of the petunias which he was totally unaware of.
Pretty soon the cactus started to get smarter and think; “Good Harold morning. Pick me don’t up, and alone me!” He would try to telekinetic put into the human’s brain, to the entertainment and criticism of the other cacti, who as well were unaware of the fact that they were getting smarter too.
There is no point or end to this story. It’s only a ramble inspired by one of my favorite painters Carl Spitzweg, and all of his old men befriending cacti. Strangely if there is loneliness involved there a cactus involved in his paintings? My personal favorite is “Suspicious smoke” (not pictured here, but in the link), because if you’ve ever had a wildfire headed toward you, then you know why- it is a perfect representation of this kind of horrible event. Carl Spitzweg is kind of in the class of Norman Rockwell, in that many of his painting are kind of comical illustrations of people. Even if you don’t find them particularly funny, they are complicated enough to entertain me for hours, unlike Mr. Rockwell who actually bores me. It is a worthwhile waste of an hour or two to look up Carl Spitzweg Paintings on Wikimedia Commons.
Filed under: Affiliates/Sponcers,Life,art posters
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