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I’m a parent. I love being a parent. I grow basil. I love making pesto.

Every year around March or so, when winter starts to fade and spring peeks around the corner, I plant a new batch of basil. I don’t have the patience to grow it from seed, so I start with baby plants. I have a big pot I plant three or four plants in. I drag the pot to a spot where the basil gets sun, and I enjoy watering it.

In fact, I really enjoy watering my basil. I keep a watering can on the patio and water the basil in the morning. I have a plastic spray bottle, too. I like to spritz water on the basil leaves in the afternoon. The water beads up on the leaves, they glisten in the sun, and I like the sound of the spritzer.

It’s a meditative moment for me. My mind loses track of whatever work stuff is going on and I just take a moment to focus on the basil. Putting the pot in the sun gives it the light it needs to grow, but that’s sort of........

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