Sometimes, the things you hope for don't happen...

[MineralMan]

For example:

At my wife's suggestion, I planted a couple dozen tulip bulbs last October, on both sides of our front stoop. I forgot about them during our very long, very snowy winter, but a few weeks ago, I noticed them emerging from the soil next to the stoop. Both my wife and I have been watching them ever since, in expectation of the showy blooms. As they grew, stalks with buds emerged from the leaves, increasing our anticipation. What color would they be? When would the blooms open? Would they be as beautiful as promised on the label on the bag?

A couple of days ago, I remarked to my wife that I thought they'd probably open today. This morning, when I opened the front door to get the morning newspaper, I took a look at the tulip plants. Each bud had been sheared off neatly, and the outer coverings were scattered on the stoop and on the ground around the plants. Every last one was gone. I took a closer look. There, on the stoop were scattered little brown rabbit pellets. It was obvious that the buds were just the right distance from the stoop for the bunny to lean out and snip them off their stalks.

Both of us were disappointed. The promise of the colorful flowers we had waited for all Winter simply wasn't going to be realized. It wasn't the bunny's fault. It was just doing its bunny business. It looks like I'll have to replant the bulbs next fall, but beyond the reach of a bunny on the stoop. The promise will still be there. I'm sure we'll have tulips next spring. And so it goes...

(Note to those who see things literally: There's more to this than a story about tulips.)