Dragon Fruit @Former-MemberI've seen those, but I've never had one. Sounds a great idea.
I like exotic or unusual plants (& birds, by the way).
An Avocado tree that you grew from seed, that's great. I've had several that I grew from seed, but all gone now.
I have a Carob tree (getting big now) that I grew from a tiny seedling - they're rather hard to find (to buy). Carob from the Carob Beans tastes a lot like Cocoa (it's a chocolate substitute).
I have 4 younger brothers, I'm the eldest of 5 boys.
My Dad has been gone just over 2 years.
I do have phone contact with one or two of my brothers, but not very often in the past few years - they're all on the other side of the country.
It saddens me very much that we have become distant (emotionally), that was never my intention - living over there would not have made us close, & would have not been good for me (I believe).
My reason for staying over here 25 years ago was self-protective - I made big sacrifices to stay here, & to attempt to be independent with no family connections (or support) here.
Unfortunately that reason still stands, as it's highly stressful staying with them over there, even for just a few days. The family dynamics are weird & exclude me, quite often.
It's far more positive & more comfortable if they come here to stay with me - but they don't want to do that.
Not having good connections with family members (siblings) is painful. Yet that isn't our fault quite often, & often there isn't anything that we can do about it (I think).
Paradoxically, I was always the one who made the greatest effort to stay in touch - my efforts were not appreciated, & not returned in kind.
Ill health & other impacts meant that I could not continue those efforts, or maintain those family contacts in the ways that I would have wished.
Adge
