When is a weed not a weed?

This is a wild morning glory--either that or it grew from the seed of one of the cultured blue variety that I plant all the time. The flowers aren't as big, but it's a much deeper, more dramatic blue. Granted, it covers up the pretty magenta clematis that I did plant next to that pole, but no matter. It's still beautiful.

I love volunteers. These four 0'clocks come back in this one spot year after year, and sometimes the impatiens reseed, too. That's why I won't let anyone else weed my flower beds--not that the guys would EVER volunteer for that job--but I do it myself because I recognize the seedlings for what they are and they probably wouldn't, at least, not without some coaching.

I'm often accused of being too picky about a lot of things. I won't let anyone else use the weed eater, either, and for that same reason. Things I would leave to bloom wouldn't be recognized by my DH. By the same token, details in my nursing job might be overlooked if I let someone else help me out. It isn't that I'm ungrateful, I'm just very particular about some things.

This is also one of the reasons I don't like being edited. Suggestions for changes are fine, but when someone decides that a particular line in one of my books would be better written some other way or left out entirely (and proceeds to do it!), I rebel. Most things that may seem superfluous to someone else are there for a REASON, be it ever so obscure. For example, there is at least one Star Trek or Star Wars reference in each of my books. Sometimes they're very subtle, but I still want them in there. It's just a little quirk of mine to pay homage to my roots as an author, and sometimes, those who are editing don't realize that and try to change it. My response to that is to change it back.

These are the little nuances that writers put into their work. They may mean nothing to anyone else, but every now and then, I'm sure some Trekkie will spot one and smile. And to me, that makes it worth keeping.

So, be careful with your hoe. You never know when you might be trying to eradicate a gem.