Gifts

Vase from Sam from a trip he took to Mexico a year or so ago.

Flowers from Abbie from a walk she took with Luther this afternoon.

I officially love to receive

simple gifts from the heart.

When God Made Flowers...

When God made flowers

did He smile to think of how they would be used?

Birth.

Death.

Marriage.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

Have a great day.

Glad you are you.

Glad you're my Mom.

Some of the sweetest flowers I've been given

were the first yellow "flowers" of spring

clutched in childish fists

and given with such joy and adoration.

"Mom! I have a surprise for you!"

And with delight I would bring out

the small lead crystal vase

just right for the stems that almost aren't there

and put my flowers in a place of honor.

Now the flowers are more sophisticated

and have deeper meaning

behind the giving.

A lifetime of mothering.

A lifetime of memories.

A lifetime of love.

Always your mother.

Always my son.

Thanks, Fred.

He Loves Me-He Loves Me Not-He Loves Me

Twenty-five years ago Del Rey and I had been dating for a few weeks. He wasn't Del Rey yet. And I wasn't Shirl yet. That is a story for another time.

But 25 years ago we were in the first delirious stages of dating. And along came Valentine's Day. The holiday of L-O-V-E. The celebration of all that is mushy and romantic and sugary.

I remember wondering what the appropriate response to this holiday should be.

How fancy should we be?

How lovey-dovey should we be?

How meaningful should we make this holiday?

It could have been a little awkward. But it wasn't.

It wasn't awkward at all because Doug, in all his clarity, gave me a bouquet of daisies.

Daisies! Imagine that. 

Not roses (typical-but too expensive for a college man).

Not carnations (typical-and cheap for a college man).

Daisies. Sweet, unassuming daisies. 

I was intrigued by this man. I was actually pretty much hooked.

And I couldn't get over the daisies.

Today he brought me my 25th bouquet of daisies (a day early so I can "enjoy them sooner and longer"). He can buy me bigger bouquets these days. Actually, he can buy me any kind of flowers these days, and sometimes he does.

But for Valentine's Day? It will always be daisies.

Always and forever.

More? YES!!

By golly.

He did it again.

Another bouquet of

beautiful, fresh flowers.

These flowers ought to see me

to the end of January

and into February.

And do you know what is so great

about February?

a) it is the shortest month of the winter

AND the year

and b) when it is February we can say,

"Next month is SPRING!!!"

Even if the weather is goofy

and Winter is stubborn about leaving

(like last year, oh, it was a l-o-n-g winter)

it is okay because

Spring will come!

And the fresh flowers remind me of that.

So.

Fresh flowers in the house:

a need or a want?

A necessary want.

I want them to be necessary.

Well. Whatever.

I'm just very happy to have them.

And Doug can bring them to me

any time of the year he wants!

He Loves Me

I love fresh flowers.

I especially love fresh flowers in the cold heart of Winter.

Doug knows that I love fresh flowers.

And every now and then he'll buy some for me.

Just because he knows I love them.

And just because he loves me.