SOOOOO MANY EASTER LILIES
Spring! Easter particularly! For years and years and years now, I would buy an Easter Lily plant for mom. She loved them.
When she was a bit younger, I remember her planting them in the yard. The "bulbs", she called them. This was after the flowers all bloomed and she had enjoyed them in the house. She always said "they will come up next year". I don't remember if they ever did. But as she got older, I would plant the bulb after the flowers died, and again, I don't remember if they ever "came up".
As mom got older and lived on her own in her apartment nearby, I would still bring her a potted Easter Lily each year. She would always count the buds to see how many blooms she would have. She wanted me to buy the one that had the most! \
So it became a hunt each year. The hunt for the Easter lily that had the most blooms. Sometimes I would visit several stores. I remember one year when I waited too late, I ended up with one that only have 4 blooms. And the most I ever had was 8 blooms.
Mom grew older still, and lived in assisted living and then in nursing care. Her eyesight was not good at all. I still remembered to bring the Easter lily every year and I would tell her how many blooms. We would "feel" them together. We'd see how many were open and how many were still buds. She was so excited about the 8 count. Sadly, the 8th bud died before it opened. When I came to visit, I saw it there all brown among the other flowers, some of which were already wilting. I snapped it off. I brought the pot to mom and we felt each flower and counted. I couldn't help it but I counted one twice. She smiled a little smirk that was worth it. She told me, WOW< that's the most we ever had. I was happy. So was she.
Easter lilies. Now they kinda haunt me in the store. Feels like their petals turn to face me in every direction I turn. The buds mumbling inside themselves. I wont buy one this year. I don't need one. But seeing them in the store does remind me of mom, and I probably will still count their buds.
And maybe this year I will buy tulips!
When she was a bit younger, I remember her planting them in the yard. The "bulbs", she called them. This was after the flowers all bloomed and she had enjoyed them in the house. She always said "they will come up next year". I don't remember if they ever did. But as she got older, I would plant the bulb after the flowers died, and again, I don't remember if they ever "came up".
As mom got older and lived on her own in her apartment nearby, I would still bring her a potted Easter Lily each year. She would always count the buds to see how many blooms she would have. She wanted me to buy the one that had the most! \
So it became a hunt each year. The hunt for the Easter lily that had the most blooms. Sometimes I would visit several stores. I remember one year when I waited too late, I ended up with one that only have 4 blooms. And the most I ever had was 8 blooms.
Mom grew older still, and lived in assisted living and then in nursing care. Her eyesight was not good at all. I still remembered to bring the Easter lily every year and I would tell her how many blooms. We would "feel" them together. We'd see how many were open and how many were still buds. She was so excited about the 8 count. Sadly, the 8th bud died before it opened. When I came to visit, I saw it there all brown among the other flowers, some of which were already wilting. I snapped it off. I brought the pot to mom and we felt each flower and counted. I couldn't help it but I counted one twice. She smiled a little smirk that was worth it. She told me, WOW< that's the most we ever had. I was happy. So was she.
Easter lilies. Now they kinda haunt me in the store. Feels like their petals turn to face me in every direction I turn. The buds mumbling inside themselves. I wont buy one this year. I don't need one. But seeing them in the store does remind me of mom, and I probably will still count their buds.
And maybe this year I will buy tulips!
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