OVER the past couple of years, Omar has served as my gardener and clearing person. He clears the roadside and my pocket gardens. If I remember right, it started in December 2013.
But at the time, it wasn’t Omar yet. It was his younger friend who eventually tagged him along. And from that original weeder, the job naturally shifted to Omar.
Over the years, too, our agreement that he comes once a month is either followed or ignored, haha! Sometimes he comes regularly; other times, it takes him months to show up. You can’t blame the man. He’s got many rakets!
When he doesn’t show up, I suffer the weeds and overgrowth on the roadside and on my pocket gardens.
As a client, I patiently explained the task to him. You can’t expect the gardener to read your thoughts, can you? From time to time, he commits mistakes. But eventually because of my constant reminder – sometimes bordering on irritation, he finally got it, haha!
Every December, I give him a bonus in addition to our negotiated payment. I also gave out clothes that would fit him – he is on the thin side, so the available clothes are too big on him.
Occasionally he asks for English books and magazines. That’s right! English books! He prefers the school textbooks. I also gave him that. It seems the books make him happier than the clothes. That’s a good sign!
In April 2020, at the height of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), he showed up! Goodness! I was self-debating whether to make him work or not given the pandemic. But in the end, compassion and generosity won. He came because he needed money.
So, ECQ or not, he did his regular clearing and gardening work. I congratulated myself for having the guts to transact business with Omar when the whole neighborhood was unusually quiet because in April 2020, the whole nation was gripped with fear – no thanks to COVID-19.
That task concluded, I asked him to report regularly again.
On Wednesday, this week, he showed up after failing to report last week. I thought he was upset because on the three occasions that he called out the week before last, I was unable to accommodate him. Blame it on the cold weather! It was so good to sleep.
It turned out he had clearing and gardening work elsewhere. So, all is well!
On several occasions, Omar shared his vexations with me. Quarrels with the neighbors over his pet dog; displeasure over his stolen plants that he got from me, by the way, haha; spats with the life partner; among others. I had to listen to his ramblings. Sometimes they make sense; sometimes not. But who am I to judge? Omar has his own life troubles.
Although he is already oriented on what to do, I still work with him. I like to do it. It brings me back to my childhood days. Yes, in Bohol, tending to my mother’s daunting but beautiful garden. Besides, it’s refreshing to see the plants cleared from dead leaves and overgrowth.
Last Wednesday, the Fortune plant beside the fence, had to be cropped – the growth is quite fast owing to the regular drizzle since January 1st. Last November, the aged fuchsia Kalachuchi had to be trimmed for the first time in many years. No worries though. I have replanted several cuttings by the roadside and they are all abloom! I am quite satisfied. This fuchsia Kalachuchi came all the way from Bohol!
I remember how I brought choice plants from Mama’s garden to General Santos City. The cuttings I hid inside my luggage thinking they would not be found! What would you know, the airport X-ray machine still detected them!
But at the time, the security personnel was more amused than alarmed. He just asked if I had plants in my luggage, haha! I simply said, yes. And that was that.
Back to Omar. The gardening activity is now completed to my satisfaction. Omar and I will continue to work for the months to come. He is loyal to me and I value that. I will continue to hear his ramblings and will continue to pay him after his service.
We thank Omar and the many other Omars in the world for making our lives easier and more comfortable.
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
