I wonder if you have noticed, in the Spring, how the pine trees put out, at the end of their top branches, phallic chartreuse candles? Ray says, "Oh, look, the pine trees are having sex!"

At the moment, the wind is blowing the trees and the tops are waving back and forth, like seaweed at the bottom of the ocean, perhaps, or organic cartoon candelabras...perhaps in a Dr. Seuss book. The rain is coming, soon, I hope. The garden needs it. The clouds are becoming thicker and there is less and less sun.

After the pleasant days of cool mornings and evenings when I retreated indoors for a few hours and it stayed cool enough inside, it has become hotter and more humid. We are approaching Georgia summer and I am starting to think about how I can get away for a week or a month to somewhere cooler. The change in the weather may buy me a few more days when it is acceptable to be out for a few hours, weeding and tending my vegetable babies.

I was a little hysterical for a few days earlier this week. I was convinced that the job interview I had coming up was critical, the best place in the world for me to work. I had to have the perfect outfit so they would hire me. I spent about $500 in all, although I will return a few things next week. I spent many hours and cajoled all my closest friends to advise me.

I decided on the black crepe suit, but needed the right blouse for it. My good white blouse had gotten a little pink on the cuff and I wasn't sure it would show but didn't want to risk it. Also, a white blouse and black suit seemed just a touch too severe.

I spent several hours at Talbot's Monday afternoon with my patient and generous friend Becky. And, it turned out, Linda S. is now working at Talbot's! Her husband is a geology professor and we have known each other for years. Although we are not close friends, I like her quite well and was happy to have her help me shop. For one thing, she knows all the scoop about Talbot's clothes.

I foolishly did not bring the suit with me, but borrowed a black jacket and tried several blouses, a variety of colors and styles. There was a dress that I liked a lot too and Linda thought it would be fine to wear to an interview...but I would have to shave my legs. "Linda," I said, "I haven't shaved my legs since 1977 (the day I got married), and I am not going to do it for this job interview." "Why not?" she said. (This is one of the things I like about Linda). "It's wrong," I said. "You're such a hippie," she said. "Yes," I laughed, "and proud of it."

We really liked a periwinkle polyester sleeveless shell, but it didn't fit quite perfectly, bunching up above my bra. Linda advised me to get a better bra...Becky said she found wearing a camisole helped with the line of some tops. They also felt I needed a new necklace (which I thought was atrocious...but it was on sale.) "You can always bring it back," said Linda. She's good. In the end, they thought a somewhat garish red flowered shirt was the best under the black jacket. I bought several other tops, as well as the dress, and three pairs of pants (navy, black, gray). They were $80 each before the 30% off sale, and fit well...in a size 12! "Well," I said, "if I get this job, I will need lots of professional clothes."