Once upon a time, I had an experience in a bamboo grove that was part of my journey to self discovery. The experience meant so much to me that several months later I bought this bamboo to commemorate it. I loved the black triangle vase and the bound together bamboo. I’d look at it and be transported back to that sweet, sad time. I owned the bamboo pictured for quite a while. One day I noticed one of the bamboo stalks starting to die. It slowly turned yellow and then brown until I finally had to throw it out. Some time later, the vase was accidentally knocked off the counter. The triangle vase broke so I placed the two stalks left in a mason jar and continued to remember. It wasn’t quite the same once the vase was broken, but I took what I could get. A year or so later, a second stalk of bamboo started to die. When I was down to one stalk left, I went in search of more because I couldn’t imagine not having bamboo in my house. I didn’t visit the memory as often, but I needed the bamboo there just in case I wanted to take the trip. The stalks I found were curled, but I couldn’t find straight ones and I needed to hold on to that memory so I bought them. Through several years, a couple of girlfriends, and a couple of moves I kept the memory of that bamboo grove alive. Then I met Candied Jansen. I fell in love with her, moved in with her, and married her. I haven’t given a thought to the memories of that bamboo grove. The past week I’ve noticed this happening to the very last stalk of bamboo. 
And now that it is time to throw the last stalk of bamboo away, I am fine with it. The curved bamboo in the mason jar never felt the same as those straight, tight stalks in the triangle vase. I realize that I only held onto the bamboo this long because I didn’t want to throw a live plant away. It wasn’t about the memory at all. The memories tied to the bamboo will always be there, but I don’t dwell in that place anymore. I don’t need to. It’s no longer a bittersweet part of my story, it’s just a part like all the other parts. I will never forget the journey that got me to the place I am now. All of it has lead to this perfect place of life, love, and happiness and for that I am grateful!
Midlife Natalie 