Monday, February 14, 2011

Three years ago today I went to the flower shop and ordered a bunch of the most beautiful flower arrangements. Unfortunately they were not your typical Valentines bouquets. They were in honor and in memory of my Dad. Then I was off to the funeral home to make arrangements for the  memorial service.
I can honestly say it was not a great day for me. When you are slammed with grief, the last place you want to be is stuck in a flower shop surrounded by people "giddy" in love or sitting across the table from a solemn face man filling out tons of paperwork and writing an obituary. Unfortunately time travel was not an option for me. If so I would have gone straight to 4th grade when Mark S wrote on my Valentine that I was: the prettiest girl in the class and he liked me best. Life was good then. Sorrow hadn't truly touched me. Cardboard boxes filled with Valentines easily brought joy to my day. Now I get love notes that say "please wash my....etc." I am not a small child nor a young woman newly in love, so Valentine's day is one of the biggest, overrated holidays out there in my book.Most people run out at the last minute to get (and sometimes spend a fortune) on the perfect gift. I can't stand that. I mean Valentine's Day is always on February 14th. I prefer a gift with some thought put into it. Which brings me to my Dad.  Prior to the 14th, he knew he didn't have much time left. So he made sure that he got my mom a card and a gift for Valentine's day. He also made me promise him, that if he wasn't around on Valentine's day that I would buy roses for mom from him one last time should he not make it.  SO, on my way on home I stopped by another florist. I picked up a gorgeous bouquet of yellow roses tinged with red. Red for love, yellow for new beginnings. Just like daddy requested.  As you can imagine it was a very emotional moment when I gave her those last gifts from Dad. Bittersweet. Joy and Sorrow intertwined.






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2 comments:

FatFighterTV said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful thing you and your dad did for your mom that Valentine's Day.

xoxo

sues2u2 said...

This I do understand. My grandpa passed on Thanksgiving 9 1/2 yrs ago. My parents had just reached the corner of their street when he felt my grandpa telling him it was okay. Just like your dad did w/ your mom.

You've had such profound losses in your life. I'm so sorry.

love,
Susan