My Mother, the Plum Tree, and Some Unexpected Muscle Soreness

The other day, my mother told me that the branches of the plum tree at my parents' house had grown out and were covered in bugs, so I went over to prune it.

I say 'prune,' but my job was really just to cut back the branches that had grown out too long.

A professional gardener had pruned it about six months ago, but in less than half a year, some parts had grown over a meter.

Some branches hadn't grown much at all, and it was interesting how uneven it was.

I got on a stepladder and just kept snipping away.

Cutting them is fun, too.

It feels refreshing as the shape gradually comes together.

While I was cutting, my mother was busy gathering up the branches and leaves.

That alone was quite a large amount.

She swept up not only the leaves I had just cut, but also the dead leaves that had fallen in the garden, making a rustling sound.

The scent of soil hung in the air.

The dead leaves just kept piling up and up.

Thinking about how, until a few years ago, my mother would get on the stepladder, cut the branches, and rake up all the debris by herself, I am amazed at her stamina.

Will I be able to do something like this at her age?
I realized, belatedly, just how capable my mother is.

My mother has always loved cleaning the garden.

In the past, she would sweep the garden so thoroughly that you would rarely see a single fallen leaf, but this time, there were piles of brown, withered leaves that made me wonder how long they had been there.

Seeing so many dead leaves made me realize just how much my mother has aged.

That is precisely why I felt so grateful for the time we spent together trimming branches, gathering leaves, and cleaning up the garden.

Being able to spend that time together while doing yard work is a precious memory of that day.

After I got home, we had our usual video call.

My mother asked, "Your arms must be sore, right?"

At that moment, my arms were not sore at all, so

I replied, "Not at all."

Even though I climbed a stepladder to cut the branches, my arms never got sore, not even at the end.

In an unexpected turn of events, only the left side of my buttocks was sore.

It seems I must have been unconsciously tensing up while I was on the stepladder.

On the other hand, there is that exercise I keep doing every time I do the laundry.

The one where I put my hands together above my head, straighten my elbows, and lean backward.

Perhaps "a little bit every day" has been supporting my body without me even realizing it.

Self-body care should not be underestimated.

That said, for now, the flabbiness of my upper arms remains the same as always.

But even if there are no obvious changes, my body is responding properly.

It was a day that made me feel that way.

🌿 A Small Announcement

"A Moment of Margin" has been closed for current applications, thanks to the connections I've made.

To everyone who showed interest, thank you so much.

Please let me announce it again when the timing is right for us to share a moment of margin together.

Also, I will be pausing applications during the summer holidays and plan to resume once things have settled down.