“A professional weed puller” is the phrase I used to describe my job to friends and family members who asked what I was doing this summer. To be more specific, I was “a professional weed puller” working in The Valley, with people who evolved from coworkers to close friends, with a community that appreciated and provided us with participation and nourishment, with a plant that taught me about resilience and patience, and for the cherry on top. . . goats!