Last night I elected to attempt to procure a few fig cuttings. Took about 25 minutes to walk to the first tree at dusk. It was a nice walk in the cool evening air and I was excited about picking up a few new cuttings to root. I had a new pair of clippers from the local hardware store, backpack, water bottle, paper bag, plastic bag and a few towelettes so I was all set for the task that lay before me.

The three fig trees were up a terrace so I had to climb up a few sets of some rock/dirt stairs and pass multiple fenced in raised beds to get to my intended targets. From what I could tell based upon fruit and leaves there were two black mission and a green ischia trees. Don’t know if they would be better than my own trees but hey you never know I felt compelled to try as this could be wood an esteemed Spanish Missionary brought over to the New World or but more than likely were from Home Depot but what do I know.

I arrived and slipped into the fenced garden area. It was getting darker out and my eyes were acclimating to the dark I was approaching tree #1. Awaiting me was not only a fig tree but also a little black and white kitty cat about 15 feet away from me. it was eating fallen fruit enjoying itself so probably did not see me. I immediately slowly backed away and approached fig tree #2 that was about 40 feet away keeping the corner of my eye on skunk #1. You see where eI am going with this right? 

I made it to tree #2 and selected the branch that would soon be mine. Then I heard rustle in the leaves near the trunk of the tree about 8 feet away and there was a second skunk.  Slowly did a military about face and crept away with little more vigor in my step than before. I even had my clippers in had and was reaching for the branch when I heard the rustle. Heart was pounding and I did not look back and lost site of skunk#1.

I started to final approach to tree #3 I could clearly see a 3rd skunk about 25 feet off as my eyes were now fully acclimated to the dark and I could see it well. Still a bit shaken I concluded my only option was to abort my mission.

So with heavy heart I decided there would be no cuttings for me last night and left the three fig trees intact with no spoils of the night’s mission. The skunks had decided they were not done with me yet. As I walked down the earthen stairs another skunk was standing there impeding my path looking directly at me. Maybe 15 feet away. He turned around and while there was no hiss, or raised tail I nimbly hopped over two garden beds to evade him and get the hell out of there. I’m no lightweight guy but I could have won the vault that night. I escaped and my heart was pounding like I had just sprinted up one of those San Francisco hills. As I walked back to my hotel calming myself and recounting the events of the evening I was trying to plan how I may approach these fig trees differently. Clearly I have not learned my lesson yet.

There's more . . . 

Early this morning I went to this above fig tree in the backside of a building and I am looking at it from across the street thinking about grabbing a cutting when a black and white shows up, two officers get out and go into the Starbucks, stand in line to get a coffee. Mumbling curses under my breath I too decide to enter Starbucks get a coffee. The officers sit down in front of the window with clear sight to the fig tree. Really? Is this happening? Now I know they did not see me scoping out the tree and this is probably their morning routine. 

It's like the universe is trying to tell me something. :-)

Called my wife to say good morning as soon I left Starbucks and relayed my two adventures while I’m here at the VMWorld conference.

She laughed and said: “That’s pretty funny honey but let me ask you a question. Aren’t those specific fig cuttings like 5 or 10 bucks on eBay dumb dumb?” 

Guess she does listen to all my ramblings at the dinner table after all. I love her!