Dear Adam,

I don't know if "bored" is the right word to use. You don't sound
so much "bored" as you sound "overwhelmed". I have to tell you
that the reason I love doing bonsai is that it is a fantastic
"sanity-saver". I started doing my first bonsais when I had three
of my children in the teenage years- talk about needing a
sanity-saver! When my last one moved out of the house, the trees
really started moving in. Now I have a whole new set of
"children" to raise- and I love it!

I have dealt with the demands of a job (I still do- I am not a
"septuagenarian"- love that word- but I did pass the half century
mark last year), the demands of raising a toddler (I did that
four times over and survived), and a big thing IS setting
priorities. Of course your family is your first and main concern-
I would be really worried about you if it wasn't. But as some of
our fellow bonsai folk have said, outside of the wonders of
springtime and all the fun repotting and wiring and pruning,
taking care of your trees doesn't have to be a full time job in
itself. I find working on my trees very relaxing, and if I have
had a stressful day and my husband sees me working at an unusual
hour on my trees, he knows to just let me be- and I will be fine.
They are a great balance in a world that all to often seems too
out of balance. I agree whole heartedly with Jim Lewis- stay away
from that "boob-tube"- nothing on there worthwhile to watch for
relaxation purposes. Though I will admit to watching the last
fifteen minutes of "The Apprentice" to see who Donald Trump gets
to tell- "You're fired!"
====================

This is why I love all of you!

Jim

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