31 Comments
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Brandi Lynn's avatar

I love the idea that most of us are overthinking our "purpose" while the kudzu is out there proving that the most honest thing you can do is simply occupy the space you were built for ✨

jill badonsky's avatar

Thanks for encapsulating it so well… that’s exactly what I was trying to say.

Sue Cauhape's avatar

LOL! Wonder what kudzu would do in Nevada. It's hard to grow just about anything here except flixweed. Maybe that's our version of kudzu ... flixweed ... looking pretty until July 1 when it suddenly dries up to inedible straw for anyone looking for a bite. Every spring it marches in legions to brighten the garden among the rest of whatever weed blows across the mountains. I need to recalibrate my gardening aesthetic and just let the kudzu-esque flora grow with their usual abandon.

I am glad, though, to see someone else has the same murderous affect on basil. What a wimpy plant there.

jill badonsky's avatar

Hi Sue ... What a great sentence: "Every spring it marches in legions to brighten the garden among the rest of whatever weed blows across the mountains." There's a story metaphor in that.

Full disclosure... I finally figured basil out. The secret was just the right position of sun, perfect amount of water, then buying it at the store when it died.

Sue Cauhape's avatar

🤣

Roxanne's avatar

I do not know fixweed but will look it up after I say DO NOT SEEK the kudzu. OR bamboo! Your comment was poetry.

Mary Lee Hahn's avatar

Brilliant and funny. My two favorite qualities!

jill badonsky's avatar

Thank you Mary Lee. Favorites of mine too.

Laura Lynch's avatar

This so good! We all need a little kudzu! Thank you for this!

jill badonsky's avatar

Thanks for reading

Melissa Anderson's avatar

I read your Kudzu piece, which I LOVE ❤️, to my gardener husband. He said, “It’s not really about kudzu. It’s about life. I like it.”

jill badonsky's avatar

Aw. Thanks for spreading the story around.. Melissa, kudzu would like that.

Deborah's avatar

Jill, for some reason I've not listened to your voice reading your stories aloud until this morning, and oh my, what a fabulous storyteller you are! I love your alter ego voice as well, so soft end inviting like a special Aunt Jilly Ann that I never had but would have loved to know. I could listen to your stories all day. This one inspires me to be more like kudzo too. (Ive listened to three of them just now!) Thank you so much for all the joy you bring to my life. 🩷

jill badonsky's avatar

Deborah! Thank you for listening and leaving such a kind compliment. I’m going to be thinking of it all day and maybe into the evening.

Invisible's avatar

Sit a flowerpot on the porch in East Tennessee and it will literally be choked by kudzu in the morning! Only now through Jilly Ann’s wisdom did I learn I should be taking lessons from the kudzu! Thank you Jill! Martha

jill badonsky's avatar

😁🫶🏼

Anne Lemmons's avatar

I was born in Mississippi—I know what kudzu is!

Leslie Frederick's avatar

This made me giggle. Thank you for brightening my corner with your humor in both your art and your writing. I think you might be under the dictionary definition of Whimsey if words could be defined as humans❤️

jill badonsky's avatar

I think you’re right. 😉Thank you.

This N That by Teresa's avatar

You speak to me so well!

Rebecca Woolley's avatar

So fun! Thanks for sharing Jilly Ann!

jill badonsky's avatar

Thanks Rebecca

Vashti's avatar

I wasn't prepared for the force of nature that came through you as Jilly Ann 😂

jill badonsky's avatar

hahaha! I’d love to use that as a testimonial. Jilly Ann is quite decisive.

Jody Frost's avatar

Oooph,! Most excellent!“ With the Confidence of having never read a comment section”, so good! 😊 🤣👍🙏🏼👌🦋

Luci Johnson's avatar

You are so funny and have inspired me to take a page out of kudzu’s book. Thank you

jill badonsky's avatar

Happy to inspire! Thanks Luci.

Lulu deCarron 🇺🇸's avatar

As a storyteller, I’m delighted to hear that. Artistically, what’s better than a watercolor and a story.

I’m still smiling after reading your story, it appears you have nailed both.

jill badonsky's avatar

What’s better than making someone smile. Thanks Lulu.

Adriane Giberson's avatar

I had to google “kudzu”. I read that in my “we’ll leave the light on for you” voice. Thanks, I needed that.

jill badonsky's avatar

I quickly explain what it is if you listen to the podcast