Lemonade: You either drink it or you don't. It might taste good if and when you drink it, but the memory of the flavor only lasts a short amount of time until you stick something else in your mouth. I like lemons, and I like lemonade, but, the point is, our relationship with one another doesn't last all that long to matter.
A friend of mine lent me a book called "It's Kind of a Funny Story," by Ned Vizzini. In it, a determined teenager, Craig Gilner, will do whatever it takes to succeed at life. Along the way, the book takes a few dramatic, perhaps depressing turns of Craig's character and others around him. Around the point of Craig seeking help for his depression, a really interesting concept is brought up that is called "Anchors." I'm sure we all know what an anchor is in real life--it's that heavy gizmo that keeps big boats docked--and the concept mentioned is similar. An anchor is someone or something that we can rely on; someone or something that won't get up and walk away i.e. parents, hobbies, etc. These are generally things that you CAN have an emotional tie with, but they won't walk away unless you do--which theoretically strengthens your emotional capacity. I love this concept.
That brings us to the reason for the title.
Flowers die. Every living thing does. It's an unfortunate truth. Although parents can be an anchor, anchors are generally things that are NOT alive. In which case, these things or activities remain constant in your life until you die--If I died, up to this point, it would be a sad day for the bowling lanes.
Flowers are a beautiful thing. In our society, they're used in many beautiful ways. For example, we use them to send to someone we love or someone we're dating. But we also use them to place on a tombstone to honor someone who passed. Even the latter example is used for the living, although the flower is given TO the dead. We remember these flowers, whoever they are given to; wherever they are placed. When they are given to us, we remember them even more! We take care of them and nurture them to the best of our ability. Sometimes we put them inside of a vase. Sometimes we put them inside of a flower pot with soil. Sometimes we hang them upside down to forever preserve the flower's beautiful color, so that it can be kept and seen whenever you want to see it.
While flowers are alive, they give off a beautiful smell throughout your house that reminds you each day of the person who may have given you those flowers. All-in-all, when life gives you flowers, they remind you that you're loved. It's the most beautiful thing to be loved--to be REALLY loved. And what better way to be reminded that you're loved than with the awakening of a few of your senses! (One of which triggers dormant memories the best: the sense of smell).
Although flowers do die, they remind me of anchors. Since they are preservable, you can keep them forever. They'll always remind you of a time when you were loved, too. Not that you're not loved by someone now, but the flower or flowers were given to you as a token of appreciation. They were sent to you so that you KNOW, without a doubt, that you're appreciated. I know there are other ways to show appreciation (lulz, duh), but flowers aren't overbearing. They're the quintessential life-prize bestowed upon you by someone in your life that matters at THAT moment in time. If this person is family, then you've got yourself 2 great anchors. If this person is a lover, they might go away, but you'll always have the memory of getting those flowers from them.
Some flowers are metaphorical, of course. I feel like I've been receiving flowers for a few months now. Whether they are certain people, objects, or activities, anchors are being formed. These things of which I'll never forget. Take a minute to think about the anchors in your life. And take another minute to realize their importance for your sanity. If they were given to you, or even if you pursued them on your own, preserve them. You never really know how long they'll be important to you.
- PatInTheHat
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