humble beginnings

This is an avocado tree that has been sprouted from a pit. On Sunday it was 1 inch tall, and now as you can see it's pushing 4 inches in less than one week. If you stare at it long enough you can almost see it move. Sprouting an avocado tree is just about the easiest thing in the world to do.

1) Eat an avocado.
2) Save the pit.
3) Wrap the pit in a wet double paper towel.
4) Place towel and pit in sealed Ziplock bag.
5) Throw it under your kitchen sink for a few weeks and forget about it.
6) After a few weeks, take it out, rinse off the slime.
7) Plant it in a pot about a half inch below the soil.
8) Water it so the soil never gets too muddy or too dry.

And that's pretty much it. Why couldn't all living things be this easy to care for? Wouldn't it be great if you could wrap up your bratty teenager in a wet paper towel and toss him under the sink for awhile, only to be retrieved weeks later, ready to grow into a mature adult??