More Than Just Some Posies

  Darling Daughter and her hubby came to eat with me today for Mother's Day.  Although they were insistant on treating me, I had already cooked.  We ate a hearty meal of beans and rice.  Nothing fancy just good ole Bayou food.  It was nutritious, delicious and no one complained.  Their company was the best part.  When they came through the door, Elizabeth handed me a bouquet of flowers.  "I picked these for you.  They were prettier when I picked them but now they are wilted.  I also had picked some wildflowers for you but had to throw them out the car window since they were full of aphids and ants!" she exclaimed.  The whole scene made me giggle.  I can only imagine what folks on the highway were thinking as she was tossing flowers out the window!  She went on to apologize for the gift that she and Robbie had gotten for me.  "I am sorry for getting you books.  I was hoping to find a nice, defunct bit of technology for you (like I usually do) but I could not find a spinning wheel."  Alrighty then, Elizabeth!  I love my books!  Besides, I do not know how to spin yarn.  I do have to admit, however, that a spinning wheel might just come in handy some day.  I took the flowers and got down a vase.   

  The flowers brought back a flood of memories.  Both Pop and Granddad used to bring flowers into the house.  The first thing each spring, Pop would pick the blooms from the sweet bay and bring them to Mom.  She loved the things with their sweet scent.  She always said that she knew spring was finally here when Pop would bring the sweet bay blooms.  At other times, roses or camellias from his gardens were presented to Mom.  Granddad never went anywhere without returning with a gift for Grandmother.  Most of the time, it was flowers from the hillside.  He would tromp out into the marsh to gather the highly scented white spider lilies or bring a single daisy from down the lane to her.  Each trip outside meant another flower, a small, pretty stone or even a shell.  Neither of these men waited for a special day to bring their wives a token of love. The action meant a lot to a young lass growing up.  I remember being impressed beyond words.  Mark now does the same to me.  A sprig of mimosas or a camellia often is picked on our hikes.

  It is good to see that the tradition of bringing a simple bloom to someone has not gone the wayside.  It is also good to know that the aphids and ants were tossed out the car window and were NOT included in the token of love presented by Elizabeth.  (And I am still giggling over the flower tossing image!)