Good evening, Carol.

Hello, Dr. Hortfreud.

Carol, are you ready for our session this evening?

Yes, and I’ve got a topic to discuss with you, something I’ve been mulling over for quite some time.

Well, then, let’s start with that. What’s your topic?

Obsessed gardeners.

Really, Carol. Do you know any?

Any what?

Obsessed gardeners. Carol, this is your topic. Can you pay attention for just a minute?

Sorry, Dr. Hortfreud, I was thinking about gardening.

So, Carol, would that define an obsessed gardener? One who thinks about gardening so much that they can’t stay focused even if the topic is obsessed gardeners?

Very funny. I do love gardening or “heart” it as they say, but I don’t think I’m obsessed with it. Besides, even if I was obsessed, is that a bad thing?

Well, Carol, in the strictest sense of the word “obsessed”, it is possible for an obsession to turn into a bad thing if it removes other “good things” from your life, like family and friends, or causes you to isolate yourself.

Oh, then I’m not obsessed in a bad way! I still have family and friends and actually, gardening has opened up more of the world to me. Whew, I was worried. Now I can go back to the garden with a clear conscience and work on my vegetable garden, plant those perennials I bought this week, fill my containers and in between all that mow the lawn. Currently, I have at all kinds of Dianthus, Iris cristata, bleeding hearts, Clematis, but only those with bell-shaped flowers, to plant, plus a bunch of other perennials, and oh, yes, my garden designer reminded me that this is the time to plant some of the spring flowers whose foliage doesn’t persist through the summer. I went to several garden centers and loaded up the truck with all kinds of new plants and two new chairs for the garden. We can sit in the new chairs and have more therapy sessions.

What was that you just said, Carol?

What? Dr. Hortfreud! You weren’t listening to me?

Sorry, Carol, I was thinking about gardening.