Some men, if they remember, buy a lovely bouquet of long stemmed red roses for their Sweeties. My Beloved goes one better. Tulips. And chocolate.
Over the years, Jeff has opted to declare his love for me with the beautiful flowers that are harbingers of Spring. After years of living in Truckee, tulips mean more to me than any other kind. They bring the message not only of love but of renewal and the promise of a warm and verdant future.
Tulips, along with irises and daffodils, are the first to push up through the snow to announce that the long, cold winter is over -- or just about. It's time to regenerate one's energies, pull oneself out of hibernation, and seize the sweet adventures of life.
Valentine's Day comes at a time when winter and holiday excitement are long past our caring and the first day of Spring is still a month and a half away. We can perceive the days getting longer and can certainly feel the need to stretch and remove ourselves from under the cloud cover and that faded, pathetic winter sun.
Such is also the nature of love. Daily chores and obligations, our responsibilities toward those cute little results of past passions, and even the sight of hobby materials on the shelves, can have us yearning for Cancun. I call these things "my kids and responsibilities."
Yet Valentine's Day is a refreshing reminder that someone loves us and appreciates all we do for them. Our roles in each other's lives often get lost in the detritus of daily life, but a simple bouquet of flowers, a card, a box of chocolates can lighten our hearts and give us that little spark that boosts our resolve. They are also consumable gifts that doesn't require a shelf for display or a closet to store them.
Maybe the token of affection comes not from an amore of the heart, but from Mumsy and Dad, or the bratty sibling, or an office mate who has our backs. It will let us know that the world isn't as oblivious to our need for love as we thought.
Also, watching someone's face when they open a card or see the bright colors of a springtime bouquet can be a whole lot of fun.
So have a great day, dear readers. Summer's coming and love is all around, especially when we're the ones who supply it.
If you enjoyed this essay, feel free to explore other poems, essays, and stories in the Ring Around the Basin Archive. I also love to hear from my readers in the Comments.
