LOVING LAVENDER

I held the little sachet up to my nose and inhaled deeply. “Oh, my gosh!” I cried as I held the sachet out to my son Alex. “You have to smell this!”

Alex shook his head. “No thanks. I’m not a big fan of lavender.”

I rubbed the sachet between my hands to intensify the fragrance. “How can anybody not like lavender?”

Alex laughed. “I can’t believe you talked Dad into getting lavender plants for the garden.”

“That’s the crazy part.” I started to laugh. “I didn’t talk him into it.” I pointed my thumb against my chest. “He asked me to go get some!”

Alex shook his head. “That doesn’t sound like Dad at all.” He had a confused look on his face. “Dad hates lavender even more than me.”

“What can I say?” I shrugged my shoulders. “Sometimes I get lucky and things just work out for me.” I inhaled the sachet once more. “A little slice of Heaven.” I sighed.

My husband Steven came into the room.

“Here, you have to smell this!” I cried as I held out the sachet to him.

Steven held up his hands and took a step back. “I thought we agreed to keep the lavender outside.”

I held the sachet close to my chest. “I don’t remember making that agreement.”

“We got the lavender because the bees like it and it keeps them in the garden long enough to pollinate my vegetable plants.” He reminded me.

“See, we’re coexisting!” I held my lavender sachet out while pointing to the butcher block where cucumbers and beets were laying that Steven had recently picked. “Everyone’s happy!”

Steven and Alex looked at one another.

“Okay, fine.” I sighed again as I slipped the sachet in my back pocket. “What if I promise that the sachets I make only go where my things are?”

“So, not in our closet.” Steven started to list the places holding up a finger for each spot. “Not in our bathroom, the laundry room, living room, dining room, or kitchen?”

I nodded. “Agreed.”

“And not in our bed.” Steven added.

I held up my hand to stop him. “It’ll just be under my pillow.”

Steven began to shake his head.

“Lavender helps relax me and lets me get a good night sleep.” I argued.

“Lavender makes me sneeze and gives me a headache.” Steven countered.

My eyebrows went up. “Really?”

Steven nodded. “Really.”

I shook my head and laughed. “I’ve had a lavender sachet under my pillow for the last five years.”

Steven didn’t miss a beat as a concerned looked crossed his face. “So that’s why I’ve had a headache everyday for the last five years?”

Alex started to laugh as I swatted Steven’s arm. “You are so full of it!” I cried as I took the sachet out of my back pocket and headed for our bedroom. “I’m slipping this between my pillowcase and pillow right now!” I called over my shoulder.

“Just make sure none of it gets under my pillow!” Steven called back.