Here Take This Lovely Flower

Here Take This Lovely Flower             

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I spent a lot of time living with my grandparents.

They had horses.

And a garden.

I remember when we planted the roses in my grandmother’s garden.

Even now her garden is still filled with them.

Across the street, we had some neighbors.

They were a family of musicians.

Like us.

We stopped by and talked to them for a little while.

My grandmother was playing in a concert dedicated to their family.

We were on our way back home when we passed the garden.

I stared at it for a moment.

Thinking of all the time I had spent there over the years.

My grandmother ended up coming out and cutting off one of the roses.

I asked her why that was.

She thought it’d be nice to give it to the woman across the street.

I told her I’d walk over and give it to her.

After all, she did have a concert to prepare for.

Even though they were neighbors, it was still a bit of a walk.

I purposely delayed my walk as well.

There was something nice about everything there.

I remember the setting of the sun.

The glass vase in my hand with a single red rose.

After 10 minutes I brought her the rose.

The instant smile on her face, I could never forget.

Then she told me something.

She said, “People don’t really give out flowers anymore.

So it really is special to be given one now.”

I thought about that the entire time I was down in Florida.

She was right, I’ve never really known people to gift each other with flowers.

To her, I was a stranger.

Handing her a rose.

And after that, I would no longer be considered a stranger.

Now each time I hear this song.

I think of this.

I think of the fact that..

“Dead people tend to receive more flowers than living ones. 

Because regret is stronger than gratitude.”

And..

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

And perhaps these are true.

Especially the last one.

You cannot plant a garden expecting it to die.

Because then it will.

One thing you need to know about Roses.

Is that they can make you bleed.

Though there is something else you must remember.

You are still able to heal from its thorns.

Even so, flowers can be beautiful.

And to be given one is special.

Thorns and all.