WEBVTT 1 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:13.679 Welcome to end to the night. I'm Nari your guide on today's excursion down 2 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:18.120 a twisted path. Be careful not to get lost. Be it dark or 3 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:22.559 light, It's easy to lose your way. Are you ready, then let's 4 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:37.799 begin How does Your Garden Grow? Part? Two? The next morning, 5 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.840 Mary drove to the large d at Yourself store and picked out the materials she'd 6 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:46.439 need. She arranged delivery for the next day and headed home to prep the 7 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:50.520 ground for the first leg of the path. Between frequent checks on her mother, 8 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:54.719 Mary set to work. She hadn't told Colleen about her idea yet. 9 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:58.640 I want to see how long it takes before I get her hopes up too 10 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:02.960 soon, It might take while to finish. Mom will eventually see me out 11 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:06.680 here working through the window, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to 12 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:11.079 it. It was hot, dirty work, but Mary didn't mind. She 13 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:15.719 felt driven. She needed to make this happen for her mother. The next 14 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:19.159 day, the paving stones, sand, and other materials arrived. She splurged 15 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:23.319 and bought decorative yet natural looking stones for the path. As she surveyed the 16 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:29.879 load, she was pleased with how the pavers looked beautiful, functional, durable. 17 00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:34.599 These were a great choice, if I do say so myself. Every 18 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:38.599 day, Mary made progress. Before too long, she was within sight of 19 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:42.400 Colleen through the bedroom window. Stepping back inside the house, Mary heard the 20 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:48.079 tinkling of the bell. Yes, mamma, what are you up to outside? 21 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:52.200 I saw you doing something out there? Are you building a flower bed? 22 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:57.959 Mary sat on the bed and held Colleen's hand. No, but I 23 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:02.159 do have a project going that I think you're going to like. Collein adjusted 24 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:07.400 herself in bed. I'm sure i'd like anything you did. What did you 25 00:02:07.479 --> 00:02:12.879 have in mind? Mary filled Colleen in on her plans, and her mother's 26 00:02:12.919 --> 00:02:16.439 face lit up. Oh, honey, that's an awful lot of work. 27 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:21.759 You're amazing. I think it will do you good to make trips outside. 28 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:27.039 It will be wonderful. And thank you for making the basswood tree the first 29 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:31.280 stop on the trail. Colleen wiped happy tears from her eyes. Now that 30 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:35.840 her mother knew of her plans, Mary was even more motivated to make the 31 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:40.560 path reality. It was exhausting physical labor, and some days she couldn't accomplish 32 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:46.360 much because her job demanded her full attention, but she continued making progress. 33 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:52.919 Colleen watched with anticipation. Through the bedroom window. Finally, Mary's footpath reached 34 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:59.439 the basswood tree. She walked inside and went directly to Colleen's room. Mamma, 35 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:02.960 are you ready to go for a ride? Her mother beamed, am 36 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.879 I ever, Let's take some sandwiches and drinks. We'll make a picnic out 37 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:13.319 of it. I love that idea. Mary helped her mother into the wheelchair 38 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:15.840 and pushed her through the house and into the kitchen. After packing a basket 39 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:19.599 of goodies to take with them, the two made their way out of the 40 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:23.599 house, down the ramp and on to the newly constructed path. Colleen clapped 41 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:30.479 her hands together. I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl. Mary patted her shoulder 42 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:35.759 and said, you're looking better already, mamma. Fresh air and sunshine never 43 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:39.439 hurt anybody. They stopped momentarily to look at the flower gardens. Then they 44 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:44.719 continued on their way to the basswood tree. Mary parked the wheelchair under the 45 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:47.759 basswood near the swing. Collin looked up at the canopy of leaves above her 46 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:53.560 and outstretched her hand towards a branch. Mary knew what her mother wanted. 47 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:58.400 She grasped the low hanging branch and pulled it down so Colleene could touch the 48 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:02.080 leaves. Her mother grasped the leaves and held them to her cheek. She 49 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:06.080 then kissed a leave and quietly said, hello, my dear old friend. 50 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:13.400 I've missed you so much. A tear trickled down her cheek, but her 51 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:17.199 smile was of pure joy. Colleen gently released the branch, and it bobbed 52 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:20.360 up and down above her. A breeze twirled the leaves on the tree, 53 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:26.759 and the two women laughed in delight. It feels glorious to be outside again, 54 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:30.680 Mary. We will do this every day. Mamma, are you hungry? 55 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:35.079 You know I am. I've barely felt like eating lately, but suddenly 56 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:40.600 I'm starving. Let's see what all you packed for us. Mary spread the 57 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:45.600 contents of the basket out. Let's see we have hammonds with sandwiches, sweet 58 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:49.120 pickles, chips, and cobbler. She then pulled two cold lemonades from the 59 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:54.480 basket. The two women ate, talked, laughed, and breathed in the 60 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:58.759 beauty of the day. Birds sang in the trees above them, and butterflies 61 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:02.240 and honey bees flitted wild flower to wild flower in the field around them. 62 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:05.839 Mary watched her mother regained some of the vibrancy she had in the past. 63 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:11.560 Seeing her mother's decline in recent years was an ache in Mary's heart. Colleen 64 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:15.680 suffered bouts of depression as her ability to live fully decreased, and Mary had 65 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:18.680 struggled not to let her own fears be too obvious for her mother. It's 66 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:24.959 not been easy realizing I'm not able to be me anymore. Mary. I 67 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:30.480 know, Mamma, you look wonderful today, though I feel wonderful. This 68 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:33.519 is the best medicine you could have given me. This is just the beginning. 69 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:38.240 I'll keep expanding the path and we'll come out here as often as you 70 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:42.680 want to. You know, under this tree is my favorite spot on this 71 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:46.720 land. It's special to me. I've missed it. You don't have to 72 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:50.480 miss it any longer. These limbs have watched over us through good times and 73 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:56.920 bad. They sat in silence, watching the trees sway and the grasses blow 74 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:01.319 in the breeze. Finally, Colleen needed rest. However, I'm getting sleepy 75 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:05.639 and I think it's time for my meds. Of course we can go in, 76 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:11.079 but I want to come out tomorrow. Colleen looked up at the basswood. 77 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:15.759 I'll be back to see you, my friend. She turned to look 78 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:18.040 at the tree one more time as Mary pushed the wheelchair down the path to 79 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:23.680 their farmhouse. Each day, the women set aside time to sit under the 80 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:29.240 basswood tree. The change in Colleen was noticeable. Suddenly the world seemed brighter 81 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:33.560 and refreshed. Mamma, I think even the flowers in the garden are looking 82 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:39.480 more vibrant these days. They aren't the only ones either. You're getting color 83 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:44.120 back in your cheeks, and you're eating more thanks to you getting me outside. 84 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:47.399 I was literally dying before. Now I think I'll put that off for 85 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:53.279 a while longer. She gave her daughter a warm smile. Weeks went by, 86 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.639 and sometimes they took strolls farther out as the path grew, but their 87 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:01.199 favorite spot was under the tree. Colleen sat in her wheelchair while Mary lounged 88 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:05.000 in the bench swing. One day, Mary's cell phone rang while they were 89 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:11.120 on an outing Yes. Hello. Mary's face fell and she whispered to her 90 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:14.920 mother, it's work. They need me to send them the Meyer proposal. 91 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:18.759 I'm sorry, don't be sorry. Go on, I'm going to stay here. 92 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:24.720 I'll be fine. Are you sure? Yes, I'll go take care 93 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:29.279 of business. Half an hour later, Mary returned. She stopped in horror 94 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:33.800 when she saw the empty wheelchair. Mamma, mamma, I'm coming. She 95 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:38.160 raced to the basswood tree and stopped in her tracks once she arrived there. 96 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:49.160 Mamma, you're standing how I don't really know. Isn't it wonderful? Mary 97 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:55.839 stared in disbelief. I was sitting in my wheelchair talking to our tree friend 98 00:07:56.439 --> 00:08:01.199 and something told me to stand. I didn't dit first, but it told 99 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:07.439 me to stand, and I did. Mary rushed to hug her mother. 100 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:11.800 Mamma, this is incredible. You haven't walked in at least a year. 101 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:18.279 I've felt better and stronger ever since we started our daily walks. I not 102 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:22.600 only feel better, I am better. How long have you been standing? 103 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:26.600 Oh? Ten or fifteen minutes? It feels good to walk on the grass 104 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:31.039 and to touch the bark on a tree again, Mary, I don't understand 105 00:08:31.080 --> 00:08:37.639 it any more than you do, but I'm better. Tears trickled down their 106 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:41.320 faces. Let's not wear you out. I think this is enough excitement for 107 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:46.840 one day. She helped Coleen back into her chair before they left for the 108 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.000 house, though they turned and stared at the basewood tree. The sun was 109 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:54.200 sitting on the horizon, and the branches were outlined in hues of pinks, 110 00:08:54.279 --> 00:09:00.360 purples, and reds. Mary patted Colleen's shoulder and her mother's hand and met 111 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:05.159 hers with a squeeze. That evening, Mary sat with Colleen in her room. 112 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:13.000 Mamma, this is nothing short of a miracle. Colleen sat quietly for 113 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:18.039 a moment. I know it sounds crazy, but I think it's the plants, 114 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:22.240 the tree. But also, look at the plants in my room. 115 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:26.240 Mary. As I've grown healthier, so have they. Look at the ivy 116 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:31.440 plant. Its leaves were yellow and sickly. Now they're green and glossy. 117 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:37.600 And look at the others. The orchids have been blooming. They haven't done 118 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:41.799 that in ages. Mary took a good look around. Mamma's right. The 119 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:48.240 plants are thriving just like she is. I can't explain it, Mary, 120 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:54.240 but I think the plants are saving me. I don't understand it either, 121 00:09:54.279 --> 00:10:01.159 mamma, but something wonderful is happening. You haven't appointment with Wilson on Tuesday. 122 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:05.159 Let's see what he says. But I think we need to keep our 123 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:09.559 suspicions about the plants between just the two of us. Oh lands, Yes, 124 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:11.240 girl, they'd be locking us up and throwing away the key. I 125 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:16.840 agree. While I feel better, let's see what the test results say about 126 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.000 me. They should have those within a few days after my appointment. Yes, 127 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:24.480 we will find out if the doctor see is the same improvement we do. 128 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:28.039 Colleen gently held a branch of for philodendron. Good night, my little 129 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:33.080 friends. Thank you, thank you for helping me. I love you all. 130 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:41.440 Mary stood in the doorway. Yes, thank you. She turned off 131 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:45.559 the light and quietly shut the door. The two continued to make their daily 132 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:48.519 trips to the basswood tree, and each day Colleen stood a little longer and 133 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:52.720 walked a little more. Mary, I practically feel like a kid again. 134 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:58.399 Colleene looked upward and smiled at the bright blue sky. As long as I 135 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.360 keep getting better, I'd like to start working in the flower gardens again. 136 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:05.960 Oh that would be so much fun. Some of my best childhood memories are 137 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.960 of us working in the flower beds, my little Mary. Mary. Quite 138 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:16.440 contrary, Colleen laughed, we still aren't sure how your garden grows. It 139 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:22.200 must be those silver bells and cockle shells, it must be. But I'm 140 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:24.799 not going to ask too many questions. All I know is that our plans 141 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:30.720 are thriving, and I'm thriving. On Tuesday, Mary drove Colleen to her 142 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:35.799 appointment. Hello, Mary, how have you been. They exchanged their gredients 143 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:37.919 and the doctor began his exam. How have you been feeling, Colleen? 144 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:43.720 She looked at Mary and then back at the doctor. Actually, I've been 145 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:50.120 feeling great. He listened to her heart, he took her blood pressure. 146 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:56.399 Could you put that into English? Please? Oh? Yes, sorry, 147 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:03.080 I'm just puzzled. Your idols are surprisingly good. Like I said, I'm 148 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:07.600 feeling much better lately. You certainly appear to be. I'll have the nurse 149 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.039 draw blood. We're also going to take a few X rays. We'll have 150 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:15.919 those results on Thursday. I'm renewing your prescriptions, and I want to see 151 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:18.919 you back here right away if there's a problem with the test results. Yes, 152 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.799 of course. The waiting game began. On Thursday, doctor Wilson called 153 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:31.240 her. I've got your test results in and there are some irregularities. I'd 154 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:33.919 like you to come by my office this afternoon so I can take a look 155 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:37.480 at you again. Mary soft Bear passed through her mother's eyes. As she 156 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:41.480 hung up the phone, Mamma, what did he say? He said there 157 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:48.320 were irregularities in my test results and that he wants to talk to me about 158 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:52.240 it this afternoon. At one thirty. What kind of irregularities? He didn't 159 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:58.279 say. I feel better than I have in years. I don't think this 160 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:01.960 is all in my head. I don't think so either, So don't panic. 161 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.960 Let's see what he has to say. At one thirty, doctor Wilson 162 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:11.039 rapped on the door to Examine three, where Colleen and Mary anxiously awaited him. 163 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:16.639 Come in, they said. Doctor Wilson walked in and sat down on 164 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:20.440 the stool by the exam table. He gave them a kind smile. He 165 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:24.399 looked at the chart and hesitated to speak. Yes, doctor Wilson, is 166 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:31.720 there bad news? Nope, it's not bad news. Perplexing news, but 167 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:35.279 not bad news. That's why I wanted to meet with you today. The 168 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:41.440 women stared at him in silent anticipation. I don't understand any of this, 169 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.559 and I had the lab double check their results. But your test came back 170 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:54.480 normal normal, famine or actually normal, actually normal. Your white count is 171 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:58.120 normal, your blood salts and kidney functions are normal. Your liver function is 172 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:03.240 perfect, and the X ration showed no trace of any tumors. I want 173 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:07.240 to run an MRI to look more closely, but according to these results, 174 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:11.240 I'm holding you're healthy. I don't understand it, but that's what the numbers 175 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:16.840 say. Mary and Colleen hugged each other. I knew it. I knew 176 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.039 I felt better. Mama, do you want to show him what you can 177 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:26.000 do? Doctor Wilson raised his eyebrows. Yes, watch what I've been doing 178 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:30.919 for the past week or so. She stood. His mouth opened, but 179 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:35.519 no words escaped him. Finally, he said, oh my god, it's 180 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:39.399 a miracle. Colleen. You had no more than six months to live. 181 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:45.080 The last time I saw you, you were bedridden. This is incredible, 182 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:48.679 isn't it. Mary made me a path to take me around our place in 183 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:54.279 my wheelchair. It must be the fresh air, because I felt better every 184 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.639 day since then. I seldom like to be wrong, ladies, but in 185 00:14:56.679 --> 00:15:01.159 this instance, I'm glad my prognosis for you was mistaken. This kind of 186 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:05.480 improvement only happens once or twice in a career. I'm ordering the MRI, 187 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:11.159 but I really do think you're healthy again. The women left the office elated. 188 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:16.519 To celebrate, they went to their favorite Italian restaurant. Colleen ate every 189 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:20.279 bite of her meal and had a slice of cheesecake for dessert. In the 190 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:26.519 coming days, the MRI showed no sign of tumors, and Colleen's strength grew 191 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:30.600 steadily. Now she was able to walk to the baskewood tree, where she 192 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.840 and Mary sat in the swing and enjoyed the presence of the living world around 193 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:37.840 them. Looking up at the canopy made by the lovely tree, Colleen said, 194 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:43.120 I don't know how you did this, but you saved my life. 195 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:50.000 You and your plant friends. The tree's leaves fluttered even though there was no 196 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.440 wind. Thank you for saving my mamma. We both loved you our whole 197 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:58.639 lives, and you have given us a gift we didn't dream was possible. 198 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:06.120 The leaves fluttered again that night, as Coleen slept soundly in her bed, 199 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:10.240 a beam of light came through the window and illuminated the rubber tree plant. 200 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:15.320 The other plants of the room swayed and bobbed. The philodendron reached out to 201 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:19.279 Colleen and gently wrapped itself around her hand. In the yard, a beam 202 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:23.879 also fell on the basswood tree. It danced and moved its branches like the 203 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:29.759 arms of a symphony conductor. In the sky, the beam met the light 204 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:34.399 of a star that twinkled brightly. The basswood tree was here as a faithful 205 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:41.600 and loving servant. Spread goodness, give love when love is received, make 206 00:16:41.639 --> 00:17:03.680 a difference here on earth, and so it did. Thank you for joining 207 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:08.200 me for this episode of the Into the Night Anthology podcast. Written by Caroline 208 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:14.880 Giamanco, narrated by Nari Quok, Theme music by Nico Rodriguez, all other 209 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:18.400 original music, sound design and editing by Omenhawk Studios. You can find our 210 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:22.960 links in the show notes. Into the Night is on your favorite podcatcher, 211 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:26.759 so make sure to like, subscribe and leave a five star review to help 212 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:30.079 other excursionists to join us. I'll see you next time, and remember, 213 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:34.720 whether in the shadows or in the daylight, all twisted paths lead you into 214 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:40.160 the night. Into the Night Anthology is a creative typo entertainment production.