With that four word proclamation my mother would head out to pursue her greatest passion, the nurturing of beauty.
No greater joy, no time better spent, no more captivated audience of one than she when surrounded by her flowers.
It seemed that the closer to the earth mother was, the happier she grew.
What was it about being down on her hands and knees, using a small spade to turn over the dirt?
Did the rich, black loam that had already been carefully worked into the soil, need it?
And how she smiled, her eyes crinkled at the corners and her lips pressed together as she hummed a favorite hymn as the soil softly fell through her ungloved fingers.
How many colors of flowers were there, even in a single blossom?
Not enough to hear her tell it.
She tenderly tended to her flowers in the garden the same way she went about nurturing her children, and the children she reached out to in the garden she pictured as her community.
She envisioned a day when those flowers – and children – would be displayed, the flowers to grace our dinner table with their delicate artistry, and the children to take her place in the nurturing of beauty.
Mr. Anderson,
I so enjoy your writing. This one took me back to a simpler time. Although, my family wasn’t into gardens, per se, My grandpa had a dark blood red rose bush at the end of the sidewalk. When my mom was a young girl, she asked her dad for her own rosebush. Grandpa took her to Sears, I think, to pick one out. She chose a bright yellow one. It was planted across from Grandpa’s. I grew up watching them lovingly tend those bushes.
As an adult, wherever I have lived, I have planted a blood red and a bright yellow rose bush at the end of my sidewalk (if I had a sidewalk…lol). I was even lucky enough to find a couple of vintage wine glasses with those roses on them!
Whenever someone mentions gardening, I have to smile at the thought of my family’s version!!!!
Oh, for the simple times.
Thank you Jerri.
There are a couple three of us 🙂 writing, editing and photographing our way toward a hoped-for one-day-to-be-published coffee table book.
Our very own Lakewood City Councilman John Simpson who is a several-times awarded photojournalist, along with myself and my daughter Christina Klas who is a world-traveled photographer, have the following criteria by which our submissions to the proposed book will be judged acceptable by us: simple and quiet truths.
Thank you for your reaction that likewise expresses an appreciation of love and life and the simple times.