About two years ago I bought a plant. It was my very first plant and I was trying to brighten up my apartment a little.

I got a philodendren and named it Clancy, Clancy O' Dendren. He was Irish. Why give a plant a name and nationality? The answer is because I wanted my plant to have a personality and be able to talk to.

If that sounds nuts, maybe it was. I had always heard, though, that plants benefit from vocal interaction and respond in the way they grow. Plants just turn out healthier than they otherwise would.

About a year ago I replanted Clancy to a bigger pot and things started going down hill. He went through a tough moving, getting jostled and tipped by some of my roommates things. After a slow decline and losing all but two of his vines, I decide it was time to euthanize my little Irish friend.

Clancy O'Dendren was laid to rest about two months ago and his empty pot is a sad reminder of what I take as a failure to care for something. Was it the way and frequency with which I watered him? Was the degree of sunlight exposure wrong? Was he need of another plant to feed off of?

I will never know I suppose but I will move forward, and after I move (yup, I'm moving) I will try again. This time I will get two or three plants. I will have a plant family. Crazy is probably how that sounds but I'm good with crazy.

My only question for you fine people is if there are any suggestions for what type of plant I should get. I was thinking about another philodendren and maybe a jade plant? I'm looking for something a little low maintenance that I hopefully won't kill as I did Clancy.

So, how bout a moment of silence for the deceased and I'll talk to my adoring audience again soon (ha- this almost seems like a satire... hmm).