In those long ago years when my daughter crawled up and down the stairs at her grandparent's home and toddled through the house calling, "Grandmommy! Where are you?" my mother had many pet names for her first grandchild. The most favorite were “Rosebud” and “Petunia.”
That's why I smile every spring while I plant petunias. Sweet memories of my own little girl and my own mother giggling, hugging, whispering, and telling secrets dance among my freshly turned dirt, Aunt Margaret's iris, and Blanche's yellow bells almost ready to bloom.
That little blond, blue-eyed pixie is all grown up now and if I dig in the dirt too long on humid days, she comes outside chiding, “Mom, here's a bottle of water. Don't you think you need to come in now?”
Her son will be here tomorrow afternoon to have Mother's Day evening with us and as he approaches his 23rd birthday—and his last year at university, he still charms my soul. Just as his mother charmed her grandmother. No! I do NOT call him “Petunia,” bit he knows he holds a place of special joy in my heart. Come to think of it, though, he has brought a beautiful and precious 'special other' into our lives so I might just dub her “Petunia!” Somehow, in my mind, that would be fitting.
Tomorrow I won't enjoy—in person my son, daughter-in-love, and only granddaughter nor my husband's three adorable and wonderful children, spouses, grands, and greats, but I will give thanks knowing I am truly a blessed woman.
I love and miss all of my Petunias and guys—and I miss you, too, Mother!
Hugs and blessings,
Liz, a very proud Mom
I think you can safely add "Master Gardener of Hearts" to your resume! Your gift of encouragement is such a blessing to those who are planted in your soil.
Posted by: Sally Clark | May 11, 2009 at 08:07 AM
I CAN'T BELIEVE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS YOU STILL REMEMBER THAT I WAS
CALLED PETUNIA AND ROSEBUD. YOU HAVE A GREAT MEMORY.IM GLAD GOD
PUT YOU IN MY LIFE TO TEACH ME THE THINGS INEEDED TO KNOW.HE KNEW WHAT WAS WOULD BE IN STORE FOR ME IN THE FUTURE AND HE USED YOU TO HELP ME JUST LIKE HE USED GRANDMOMMY TO HELP YOU.AND LATER US.
YOU ME AND JOHN.JOHN AND I WOULD NOT HAVE A HOME IF IT WERE NOT
FOR YOU ,I BELIEVE GOD WAS JUST USING YOU AND TEACHING ALSO
SO YOU COULD TEACH OTHERS [JOHN AND ME].YOU'VE DONE YOURJOB WELL
WHERE JOHN IS CONCERNED.GRANDMOMMY WOULD BE PROUD'' I BET SHE'S
SAYING JOHN HAS A GOOD ONE.[SO IS GRANDDADDY]''
LOVE MELINDA
Posted by: Melinda Lowrey | May 10, 2009 at 03:44 PM