Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Art of Remembering: My Mother

The Recuerda Mi Corazon blog is hosting an October meme called The Art of Remembering.  You can read more about it here and this week's memories are at this link.  In Rebecca's words, the purpose of this Sunday exercise is to "share our most personal memories of loved ones and their forever places in our hearts.  As we take time to do the sacred work of remembering we are filled with the presence of all those now gone that once filled our days with love and comfort."  You can read my previous entry by clicking here.
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My Mother's Roses
There are so many things I could share about my mother, but today I want to remember one of the smallest details about her life. . . . 
She loved roses. And she had the greenest thumb for them.  I never counted the number of rose bushes she had, but they were scattered all about our yard . . . along the walkway to our front door, in the flower bed outside the living room plate glass window, in the back yard along the side of the house and even one tucked into the small patch of dirt by the side gate. She knew exactly the right amount of watering and pruning they needed, as well as how much and when to feed them. Her rose bushes came in so many different colors and varieties.  And they all thrived under her care.  They had the sweetest perfume. It filled the air when she cut roses and placed them in vases throughout the house. 
Because my mother believed in sharing her roses . . . with her family and with her friends.  She made countless bouquets for me to give friends, neighbors, teachers and anyone else who she wanted to make feel special. She carefully selected a variety of stems to cut . . . some in full bloom; some buds just beginning to open. She wrapped the stems in wet paper towels and then in foil so they would last on their journey to the lucky recipient.  Sometimes she trimmed the thorns, but most of the time, I had to be careful because the most beautiful roses seemed to be surrounded by the sharpest of thorns.
I think of my mom every time I see roses. I remember their smell. And their beauty. And the care she gave her roses. And how she shared them.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful evocative post x

Mary B said...

What a lovely memory of your Mother that is Thank you for sharing it

alexa said...

This has been lovely to read - clearly a woman of skill and warmth and generosity who offered her gifts to others. Like her daughter, I think. :)

Anne said...

That's a beautiful post Rinda.
I am lucky enough to still have my Mum and Dad.xx

Karen said...

Another beautiful, heart-warming post.

debs14 said...

A lovely post Rinda. And your comment about the thorns reminded me of a quote from The Thorn Birds where she reminds him that his 'precious roses have nasty, hooky thorns'.

scrappyjacky said...

This could have been one of my own memories,Rinda....it reminds me so strongly of my own mother....who was completely green fingered....anything would grow for her....and she so loved roses.
A beautiful post.

Cheri said...

beautiful.

humel said...

Gosh, Rinda - I love the page, and I love the post! Thank you for sharing this verbal snapshot of your mother xx

Irene said...

Aunt Carmen did remind me of a rose. Soft spoken like the soft velvet feel of her rose petals. But you knew she was as strong as the long stem supporting that rose. She stood proud of her family just as the longest rose stands proudly on that plant. But be careful, just when you pick that flower or any one of her children, that plant will sting. RIP Aunt Carmen.

soulbrush said...

What a lovely tribute to your mom.

Sian said...

I think you have us all smelling that sweet scent with this psecial evocation.

Linda said...

What lovely memories Rinda!

GlorV1 said...

Beautiful post Rinda. My mom at 90 still loves her roses and trys to get out there to them when she can, which is daily. Beautiful post and the way she shared them with her friends. Thanks for sharing Rinda.

Miriam said...

This is such a beautiful post Rinda.

Lenora said...

Thorns protecting the beauty, the beauty a constant reminder of love.. what a gift!

peggy gatto said...

How very special1 I love flowers, but now I will think of your mom when I see a rose...extra special post!

Alison said...

Lovely page ..and what great memories you have of your mom
Alison xx

laurie said...

i believe that to compensate for the loss of people we love, we have been given the ability to remember. your page is tender, beautiful and this one aspect of your mother says so many things about who she was. my grandma grew roses so i always think of her when i bury my nose in a rose bloom.

Melissa said...

What beautiful memories of this detail of your mom's life & so lovingly written!

carol l mckenna said...

Lovely tribute to your Mother ~ she is a special rose to treasure ~ hugs ~ (A Creative Harbor)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely tribute to your mom's gardening talent, Maria. I could almost smell the roses. I do remember the bushes scattered around the yard. The green thumb must run through the Luna's hands and fingers. My mother could grow anything green - everything was always so lush and full. There is a photo of Grandma Luna with some cans of rose bushes, so it must certainly be a Luna trait.
Good luck to Clara in her new school.
Luv ya,
Cousin Rose

Carola Bartz said...

What a beautiful memory of your mom. She seems to me a very special person - how lovely of her to think of all these other people to bring some joy into their lives by beautiful bouquets of roses. It says a lot about her.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Your mother and my mother must've been kindred spirits! She passed that love on to me too and I did what your mom did in CA. But, here in NM, it is a challenge, so I don't try. But, I know that everytime you see roses, your mom is right there with you in spirit.

Missus Wookie said...

oh what a lovely memory, thank you for sharing.

Becky said...

A lovely post and memory shared, thank you.xx