THE GOOD EARTH.

Forsythia (yellow bells) are barely blooming. I see little red buds on the tips of my — what else? — redbud tree. This redbud is a transplant of 30+ years ago from a neighbor who got tired to seeing my bare yard. More of the tree’s limbs are now dead than alive yet it clings to life and brings me pleasure each spring.

This aforementioned neighbor was re-landscaping her already-immaculate place. She brought me a small cedar tree, the redbud and a cactus. Two of the three are alive today. The redbud is showing its age, however. Some of its limbs hang over a neighbor’s yard. Most of those limbs are still alive. The limbs that stayed at home are mostly dead and trying to fall off the twisted trunk.

The forsythia is from a cutting given to me by my father who, somewhat late in life, became a near-expert in landscape plants and birds.

There are little yellow flowers sneaking out in the carolina jasmine bush I planted three years ago, and my jonquils will unfold within a matter of days. The jonquils are from a handful of bulbs Jane and I purchased at Wye Mountain years ago. A little Methodist church at that community west of Little Rock sells bulbs and lets visitors cut flowers for a modest fee which they use for missions. It can be a great outing on a sunny spring Sunday. Especially if you happen to have a granddaughter who likes to run between the rows of glorious yellow blooms.

Next, spyrea and wisteria.

I know there’s plenty of winter left, but it can’t hurt to dream about spring. Also, any day now Tiny Lewis will bring me his prediction for the winter of 2012-13.

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EVERY YEAR I marvel at the wonderful citizens who are chosen for awards by the chamber of commerce. And every year I ask myself: “How do ‘we’ keep coming up with such super people?”

I’m so glad I live in the same community as Sheriff Butch Morris, Man of the Year; Anna Blase, Woman of the Year; Doug Graham, Orange and Black Education Award.

It’s only when you sit there and hear the presenters reel off impressive lists of accomplishments and contributions that you really get an idea of how our community is shaped for the greater good by solid gold citizens with plenty of energy and good intentions.

And their contributions aren’t just for the past year. In every instance, especially in the case of the late Ramon and Nelda Wilson, who were recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award, their contributions to the quality of our life have been steadfast over decades and decades.

While I’m at it, let me thank the men and women who devote their time and energy to the chamber board for no reason other than to make our community a better place.

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SENT FROM A FRIEND: I’m the life of the party even if it lasts ‘till 8 p.m.

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LIFE OF THE PARTY. I attended Texarkana’s first Mardi Gras parade, last Saturday afternoon. There was a pretty good sized crowd and I never got close enough to catch any beads. But I did stroll around the food vendors’ booths and it smelled heavenly. I told myself that I’d come back after the parade and have some jambalaya and crawfish etoufee and maybe a meat pie.

But the rain beat me to it. No sooner did the last ‘float’ pass than the bottom fell out. The street dance was cancelled and the vendors folded their tents and went home with lots of food leftover.

No one would mistake Texarkana’s ‘floats’ for those seen in New Orleans or even parades in Shreeseport. The Texarkana floats were usually people crammed in the back of pickup trucks throwing beads to everyone except me.

Organizers said that the parade was the Krewe of Koinonia or something like that. It’s Greek and it means “unity.”

As far as I know nobody revealed any body parts in exchange for beads.

After the parade was over I had an eight block walk in the rain back to where I had left my buggy.

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RESIGNS. I see where Pope Benedict XVI is resigning effective later this month. Does that mean he is a lame duck pope until then? Also, even though he’s been pope for several years I never learned how to properly pronounce his last name — XVI.

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PUNS AND adult truths from my piano friend at Fellowship: How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

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HE SAID: “A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth the first time he bites off more than he can chew.” Herb Caen, journalist

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SHE SAID: “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.” Georgia O’Keeffe, artist

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DO YOU READ THIS COLUMN ONLINE? If so, leave a comment for me and I’ll keep your name out of next week’s Court Docket. Or I’ll be glad to insert it with the crime of your choice.

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SWEET DREAMS, Baby