I used to have a job where thought I needed to play golf * to “fit it” with the (male)(of course) powers.**

The only part of it that I liked was playing early in the morning, when the grass was still damp with dew and/or overnight watering. I liked the way the greens sparkled. I liked how it smelled. I liked how damp grass clippings would cling to my shoes. Once the sun got high enough and hot enough to dry things up, the whole thing became boring. But at least there were only about four hours to go, or whatever.

Anyway, this water-sprinkled leaf the other day reminded me of golf courses.

West Texas Master Gardeners – garden tour
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 6.20.2026

*I was terrible at golf.

**Early 2000s me was a different person than 3026 me. Now I would call out the bullshit. I would ask why we were using City-owned property to put together Knights of Columbus golf tournament swag. I’d wonder out loud about workplace sexism. I’d decline to play golf but would take golf-tournament days and not go to the office. And I’d go ahead and find another job because that one sucked.