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Sometime in 1968 Roger and Gloria Dumas asked us if we wanted one of their plants as they were leaving Rhein Main AB Germany and headed for Offutt AFB Nebraska.
The plant was an ivy plant that had graced their living room for a number of years. It went up from floor level to the ceiling and then across the top one wall and part way down the next wall., almost half way around the room. Rog called the plant the "Mexican Strangler" and he jokingly said that his Tex-Mex wife Glo had trained it to drop down and strangle him if he got out of hand. He said that often when sitting in his easy chair he would look up and visualize the plant dropping down, encircling his neck and choking him.
Linda and I took the plant and kept it safe in our Gateway Gardens apartment at Rhein Main and the thing flourished. I often thought of Rog's vision of the plant dropping down and choking me. In December of 1968, when it was time to leave for Athens, we had to decide what to do with the plants that we had. We decided that we could pack them in a large box, water them thoroughly, and send them on "Teenie Weenie Airlines" (C-130) to Athens.
The crate arrived in Athens and Sam Watson took charge of the crate of plants. He placed them in the shade under one of the H-1 vans and kept them watered until we arrived in December and got our apartment. The plants all survived the trip and the new environment and the Mexican Strangler took font and center honors in our living room.
A couple of years later we got word that Rog would be my replacement in Athens. By now the Mexican Strangler was bigger and better than ever. It was time for it to return to Rog's life. When Glo and Rog arrived in the temporary quarters we had arranged for them the Mexican Strangler was ready, willing and able to again threaten Rog's peaceful and restful hours.
I have no idea who inherited this menacing plant when Rog and Glo's tour in Athens was finished. It may still be lurking somewhere, ready to threaten some peaceful person.
