A Bit of Brightness in the Midst of Drear

  It sounds like a cliche opening for a scary novel but....It was a dark, stormy night on the Bayou....but, it truly is dark and stormy.  As the winds rage outside, they are pushing the tide well up into the yard.   With the (at times) gale force winds, a drizzly rain is pelting the rooftop. Tornado watches and warnings were the norm for the day making it a fine day to straighten the craft room which has become a sort of dumping ground for anything and everything.  This chore was started a few days ago and then was interrupted by more urgent tasks.  Today, I did no more than pull the tiny room into a more organized chaos.  It is that bad.  Still, now at least I can reach my paints and canvases so I am inspired to create once again. The storming has been lingering around for the past few days making such chores a welcome break from boredom.  In fact, I do like this weather so I suppose you could call me a "foul-weather friend"!

  All of this talk about weather leads up to one thing.  Yesterday morning in the midst of all of the drear, a knock fell upon the front door.  I thought for sure this was my sister-in-law, Cynthia, since she loves to come have coffee with me during thunderstorms.  Personally, I like staying home but her visits are always welcome.  However, this was not her!  The knock was heralding the arrival of my brother from down the lane.  He will stop in occasionally just to tell me some funny story or bring the mail but not this time.  This time, he brought a smile in the form of a flower. While in reality, he brought the flower to me for identification, I took it as he brought me a gift.  It is not often one receives flowers from a brother!

  The flower in question was a camellia.  While he knew that much, he was in hopes that I knew the type of camellia.  I informed him that this was called a "Purple Dawn" and was a favorite of mine.  The name derives from the fact that as the bloom ages, the edges start to turn from bright pink to have a blush of purple. It is a lovely flower .He was extremely proud of the fact that his bush had dozens of blooms on it even though it was just a little over a year old.  He had rooted it from a bush from our aunt and uncle's place next door.  "I just did get it out of their yard in time." he informed me.  I knew exactly what he meant as I had heard the bulldozers rumbling around the place not long ago.  It saddened us both that all of the beautiful camellias, roses, azaleas and bulbs were plowed up from their growing spots.  None of the once-gorgeous yard remained. 

  Sometimes progress is just too much for me to take.  I see things like our wooded neighborhood being cut to the ground, critter homes being demolished, centuries old oak trees uprooted and decades old bushes smashed.  To me, this is not progress.  In my view, this is more destructive than most storms as this is controllable.  

  I am happy beyond belief that my brother was able to at least salvage a small camellia bush from my aunt and uncle's old home place.  I think it would please them to know that he cared.  I know it pleased me that he shared a bit of beauty with me during this dreary weather.

The Happy Flower

Once in a while, the thought behind something can bring as much, if not more, happiness as the item itself. This morning early..very early..earlier than usual, I was out and about the hill. I had been awakened not by the usual birds calling me for their breakfast but by the sounds of sirens. Not hearing this often here on the Bayou, I pondered just what was occurring that required sirens to be blaring at the crack of dawn. Once I stepped outside, I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized the strong east wind was blowing the sound from far away. Nothing to worry about here on the peaceful Bayou. Since I was already up, awake and ready to face the day, I started my hike around the Bayou. As I stepped off the first terrace leading out of the rose garden, I noticed a beautiful flower. Ahhh..a camellia! A Purple Dawn Camellia to be exact! I smiled!

This particular Purple Dawn Camellia was on a small bush that I had dug up from the old homeplace of my Uncle Alfred and Aunt Marie. I potted and tended this bush with loving care as it was for their youngest daughter, Margaret. Margie and I grew up more like sisters than cousins. We were so close in age that we shared many likes and dislikes. Recently, she told me that she really wished she had a Purple Dawn Camellia from her childhood home. It seems that this was her mother's favorite. Aha! Mark and I climbed through the briers to find what was deemed to be a Purple Dawn among the many camellias on the place. After digging, potting and tending, I finally had a perfect gift for my cousin! Today, it bloomed showing it was doing well and would be ready to make the trip to her home in Atlanta! I smiled!

Aunt Marie would be proud! She was always one that hated to see anything go to waste and to let those beautiful camellias go the wayside seemed to be just that..a waste. The new owners of the property are ill and cannot care for the place. It seems sad. When I asked them if I could perhaps have a small camellia from the property, they readily agreed. The lady said it would make her happy to know that at least one of the plants would be cared for properly. Then, she smiled.

I am quite sure that when Margie finally is able to bring her Purple Dawn home with her..she, too, will smile. This one small bush has already provided many, many reasons for folks to smile but it has the promise to carry on this happy task. Early this morning, I am also sure that up in Heaven....Aunt Marie also smiled.