Flowers
Every year for Valentine's Day my dad buys my sisters and I a rose (or roses) and a bar of chocolate. This year I didn't expect it to happen. It's my third year at college and I had no plans for seeing my parents. When my one sister was at college in the mid-west my dad gave cash to her best friend's dad (who lived not far away and was often there for my sister) to buy the flower and chocolate. But I don't have anyone like that here. Partially because I'm not as far away from home, but I also haven't built that kind of relationship with anyone either.
This tradition isn't something he talks about, he just does it and says "Happy Valentine's Day!" But I know that it is significant to him for some reason, especially now.
Here's the story...
My mother was traveling to help my sister with some moving and job searching she was doing over the weekend. Before heading out on Saturday my mom called to tell me her plans and let me know that she would be swinging through on her way home to see me. I'm just an hour out of the way and it's a "swing through" my family has done many times just to say hi and grab a bite to eat or watch a Pittsburgh Steelers game at a sports bar. But I found the way she told me she was stopping to be a bit odd, though I will accept any opportunity to see my mother and was happy that she planned to stop. I explained to her what my plans were, that she could come anytime and join in with any of my activities on Sunday. As the day unfolded our plans solidified and soon we were sitting together over salads at a local pizza joint. With impending weather we were planning to be in contact with my dad to decide if she should drive home that night or stay over as it was getting late and the rain was coming down. He called shortly after he heard that my mom was with me. After we did our phone greeting he asked if I got my flowers (now, my mother had them in the car as it would have been odd for her to bring them into the restaurant where she met me. Needless to say I didn't know about them yet!). Confused I looked at my mom and questioned my dad. She had heard his question and told me they were in the car. I relayed this message and thanked him for the gift.
Upon arriving at my townhome we unpacked the items which needed to be inside and my mom gave me the flowers. Some of them still look lively, while others took a beating with the travels. She explained that he had purchased a bouquet and split it between us girls and it had been traveling ever since.
He had sent them! They are weathered, but pretty. It's the thought that counts, and the thought behind these flowers was and is tradition and a father's love. A fathers love is like these flowers; sometimes lively, sometimes weathered, always present.
Another flower I received over the holiday was not mean't to be for Valentine's at all. A friend called to see if I was home and willing to speak for a few moments at my door. Even though it got me out of my covers of sleep I agreed to let him knock on my door to talk. The conversation began about an interaction we'd had earlier in the day and transitioned into the gift of a flower which he had seen and felt compelled to give me. While not a Valentine's Day gift (nor a tradition to be held) this flower holds lots of meaning. His reason for choosing this particular flower was sweet and caring. He knows that I have a hard time receiving gifts into my care which will surely die and that as much as I display a dislike toward receiving flowers, I do relish in them as well. With all this and a desire to show me care he bought and brought me this flower...
It's the thought that counts, and the thought behind this flower was and is to provide me with something beautiful that I don't have to fear. The love of a friend is like this flower; beautiful, lasting and without fear of death.
Our relationships define our actions as much as the other way around. I believe that both of these men had an idea of what they desired to convey with their gifts. From the outside these gifts may look like drastic and different failed attempts to convey similar thoughts and expressions. But to me each of them was given perfectly.
This tradition isn't something he talks about, he just does it and says "Happy Valentine's Day!" But I know that it is significant to him for some reason, especially now.
Here's the story...
My mother was traveling to help my sister with some moving and job searching she was doing over the weekend. Before heading out on Saturday my mom called to tell me her plans and let me know that she would be swinging through on her way home to see me. I'm just an hour out of the way and it's a "swing through" my family has done many times just to say hi and grab a bite to eat or watch a Pittsburgh Steelers game at a sports bar. But I found the way she told me she was stopping to be a bit odd, though I will accept any opportunity to see my mother and was happy that she planned to stop. I explained to her what my plans were, that she could come anytime and join in with any of my activities on Sunday. As the day unfolded our plans solidified and soon we were sitting together over salads at a local pizza joint. With impending weather we were planning to be in contact with my dad to decide if she should drive home that night or stay over as it was getting late and the rain was coming down. He called shortly after he heard that my mom was with me. After we did our phone greeting he asked if I got my flowers (now, my mother had them in the car as it would have been odd for her to bring them into the restaurant where she met me. Needless to say I didn't know about them yet!). Confused I looked at my mom and questioned my dad. She had heard his question and told me they were in the car. I relayed this message and thanked him for the gift.
Upon arriving at my townhome we unpacked the items which needed to be inside and my mom gave me the flowers. Some of them still look lively, while others took a beating with the travels. She explained that he had purchased a bouquet and split it between us girls and it had been traveling ever since.
He had sent them! They are weathered, but pretty. It's the thought that counts, and the thought behind these flowers was and is tradition and a father's love. A fathers love is like these flowers; sometimes lively, sometimes weathered, always present.
Another flower I received over the holiday was not mean't to be for Valentine's at all. A friend called to see if I was home and willing to speak for a few moments at my door. Even though it got me out of my covers of sleep I agreed to let him knock on my door to talk. The conversation began about an interaction we'd had earlier in the day and transitioned into the gift of a flower which he had seen and felt compelled to give me. While not a Valentine's Day gift (nor a tradition to be held) this flower holds lots of meaning. His reason for choosing this particular flower was sweet and caring. He knows that I have a hard time receiving gifts into my care which will surely die and that as much as I display a dislike toward receiving flowers, I do relish in them as well. With all this and a desire to show me care he bought and brought me this flower...
It's the thought that counts, and the thought behind this flower was and is to provide me with something beautiful that I don't have to fear. The love of a friend is like this flower; beautiful, lasting and without fear of death.
Our relationships define our actions as much as the other way around. I believe that both of these men had an idea of what they desired to convey with their gifts. From the outside these gifts may look like drastic and different failed attempts to convey similar thoughts and expressions. But to me each of them was given perfectly.
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