fruit

My tangerine tree blossomed and there might even be a couple tiny little tangerines growing. It puts a big smile on my face.

I also got a one-year job at Southern Utah University. I will admit this university was not on my radar a year ago, or even 4 months ago. But I could not be happier. I have yet to hear a bad thing about Cedar City or the university. I am really excited that I get to teach consumer behavior.

fruitless, for now

When Deb and I bought our first home together, I ran out and bought a tangerine tree for our yard. That was five years ago, and it is yet to yield any fruit. It is in the sunniest part of our yard, and it has grown quickly. It seems to be thriving, but it bears no fruit. Two years ago there was one blossom. I got excited and tried to take a picture of it, but I hit the blossom with the camera and the blossom detached.

Whoops.

You might think that Florida is a great place to grow tangerines, but the truth is that Florida is too humid for citrus. (That is why Florida orange growers struggle with a number of diseases that California growers do not). My tangerine tree attracts white flies, who like the leaves. The white flies excrete a sugary substance on the leaves, and a black fungus grows on their excretion. The black fungus chokes the leaves and prevents photosynthesis. So for the past two years, I have cleaned the leaves individually, by hand and with a rag.

Cleaning fungus growing on insect crap isn't as fun as it sounds.

Anyway, during this year's leaf-cleaning, I thought about that tree as a metaphor for my job search. Lots of patience and effort, but nothing to show. At some point, I will land a great job and that tree will produce delicious tangerines. Maybe this is the year for both.