Articles written by Laura Harrison

What is Helium

About me - Laura Harrison

I am a self employed landscaper/ gardener, living in Virgina's beautiful Shenandoah Valley. For all of my life, Ive been told I should be writing, but have had a million excuses keeping me from trying. These days, the kids are gone, and the time to try has

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Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Moments that change your life: 20 of 234
In the fall of 1996, I left New York city, and went to live in the rural south. This decision to move was not made because of something I wanted, but based on the needs of someone else.My boyfriend, whom I perceived to be my knight in shining armour, had taken a job down there, and wanted me to come with him. Despite cries of... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs My most humorous gardening (mis)adventure: 11 of 76
Along with the privilege of earning a living working outdoors, comes the potential for injury. The odds of an incident increase, the more you are out there, and depending on where you work. Id had a very good run, felt very fortunate, and never really gave too much thought to being injured. In just one day my world turned aro... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Pulling teeth: 1 of 6
There is nothing quite like a beautiful smile. An otherwise beautiful face can be ruined by the apperance of unsightly, unhealthy teeth. For me, teeth were my youthful obsession, and I was blessed with a beautiful set. How bizarre was it, then, that I should lose many of mine in a car accident when I was only sixteen.The firs... More..
Home & Garden > Landscaping Low maintenance landscaping: 4 of 17
Potential landscape clients describe to me, how they want their properties to look. I listen carefully as my job is to combine their needs and wants into the plan I devise for them. There are a multitude of reasons for landscaping a property. Preparing it for sale, completing a commercial structure, correcting an overgrown or... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Denial: 4 of 12
Denial is the brains way of easing us into realizations slowly. When we are forced to immediately absorb painful realities without preperation, we often go into shock. And so sometimes, despite seeing unpleasant writing on the wall, we see art, for a time.I am fond of saying that I am " The queen of denial." This can be a goo... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Gardening with love: 1 of 2
Gardening is literally my life. I earn my living working as a gardener, and landscape designer. This wonderful field of endeavor has brought me tremendous joy and satisfaction.The best thing about it has been the people I have met,along the way. There was one very out of the ordinary woman, who influenced me greatly. This vig... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Self-reflection: 258 of 485
Theres no one in the hallwayBut me, myself, and II long to hear small voices,Its hard to know just why..Im living life alone these days,Theres no one here, but me,The silence is my buddy now,Im lost, Im scared, but freeNo fights, no strife, no rushing to get home..But day and night and in between,Im sitting here alone.Where h... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Losing a loved one: 100 of 158
The loss of someone you love changes the way you view the world. This, the most painful of life's traumas introduces us to the stages of grief, perhaps for the first time. There is shock and denial, anger and sadness followed by the gradual acceptance that finally brings some peace.Circumstances resulting in death greatly con... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Death of a sibling: 10 of 15
My sister died, a horrible death, sixteen years ago. In the years before her death she affected the lives of our entire family, and left a legacy of dysfunction, and pain, for all of us.She was a tormented soul, who turned to drugs to ease her pain. We were just a regular middle class family. Her problems weren't rooted in he... More..
Relationships & Family > Marriage & Intimacy When open marriage goes wrong: 27 of 40
My wife was wild. It was her very wild side that attracted me to her in the beginning. She was the product of a home without parental supervision. I came from a home where my every move was so monitored, that I was pre programmed for bad choices.We met each other on the night shift of our factory jobs. Factory work was about ... More..