Rhubarb 101

September 6, 2011

This spring, I announced to my daughter, “I’m going out to pull some rhubarb.” 

“You can’t,” she protested. “Not in the plant’s second year.”

I corrected her.  “Our rhubarb just celebrated its third birthday!”

“Oh.  Well then…you can only pull four stalks.” 

“Where did you learn that?” I wanted to know. 

“In a blog column some gardening expert writes,” she reported confidently. 

As I pulled on my gardening gloves, I wondered out loud what a person could do with a rhubarb plant still in puberty.  “Oh, don’t tell me,” I spouted, before she could answer. “ I already know what you’re going to say, ‘Look it up in the blog!’”

The first blog I remember reading was written by my children’s nanny several years ago.  We followed her first pregnancy from trimester to trimester like Samantha Brown travel nerds tailing the popular guide through the streets of Barcelona.  It was a “can’t miss” as blogs go…cute little pregnant gal, good-looking husband, beautiful newborn…even an adorable Wheaton terrier thrown in for good measure. Having babies? No sweat. They made it look easy and fun.  

Today, as I headed to my hair stylist a little bored with my latest cut, I wondered whether a blog might hold the answer to a "new me."  Running late for my appointment, I decided to dismiss research and plunged head-long into the salon with little to go on besides a desire for "more body," "not too short and not too long", "easy" and "definitely not curly."  

Emerging 1 1/2 hours later, I wasn't sure my instructions achieved the right result.  A little uncertain, I asked my youngest daughter, the blog expert and resident fashionista, what she thought.  

"Does this hair style make me look like Rod Stewart?"  She cocked her head and looked me over.  A smile beginning to transform her face, she offered a quick but diplomatic response.  "Hmmm.  I'm glad it's more poofy.  He didn't make it look flat -- that's good...."

Then added.  "Yes, I guess it does look a little bit like Rod.  At least you don't look like those ladies with blue hair!"  

I think that was a compliment, but I'm not sure.  However, I'm certain of one thing:  I can find the answer in a blog!