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Flowery Fran

June 25, 2008 on 9:16 am | In General, Photography Websites |

Dearest Mommy,

Happy birthday to you! I know you are looking down on me. Happy birthday, dear mommy, my beautiful Flowery Fran.

It is a lovely morning, and I strolled out in front of my house, looking over my gardens, and finally letting my eyes rest on the rose bush that I planted in your honor the day I moved in, June 25, 2005, which happened to be your birthday.

With coffee cup in hand, I stood a few minutes, speaking to the rose bush, speaking to you, for I truly believe that your spirit lies within the branches, leaves, buds and blossoms. You loved roses, pink ones, especially. And, this particular rose bush is meaningful to me in ways only you would understand. It is a symbol of our mother-daughter connection, an umbilical cord of sorts, and so much more. I can’t begin to articulate what it means to me, for words could not fully describe my thoughts and feelings.

If I should move, I would dig the rose bush up, and carefully place it in earth from where it now thrives, and put it inside a large enough container to hold it and keep it alive. I could never leave this house, without your rose bush moving with me, without you near me, wherever I may go.

You believed in an afterlife, in angels and time’s tapestry. You believed that love binds us together in ways we can’t even begin to imagine. WE spoke on that subject often. You believed that the essence and strength of love would always surround us and watch over us. Well, I believe that, also, my dearest mommy. I believe we are all one, under the global umbrella. “Our flame is but a flicker in the candle of time” (L.M.). When one of us leaves this realm, we move to another one, and are a constant in time’s continuum. Our illumination and aura is still connected to those we left behind.

Signs are everywhere, and quite often we don’t see them. But, I try to be aware, I always try to feel the unseen life and the unknown, and try to hear the echoes of silence resound with your voice, your laughter, your song of love and joy.

I know you are there, nearby, hovering and looking over us. With your angel wings spread wide you envelope all of us, all the way down to your great-grandchildren, Anthony-boy and baby Emily-Girlie-Girl.

I speak to you several times a day, talk to the rose bush, and kiss your photo dearest mommy, dearest Flowery Fran.

I remember my birthday in 2004, your vocal chords paralyzed leaving you unable to speak, and how you hummed happy birthday to me, as Howie and I stood at the foot of your bed. It took a lot of effort for you to do that, but you did it with a big smile on your face, while tears streamed down mine. Howie even shed a tear or two. It’s a precious memory to me, one I treasure. And, now, I sing it back to you.

Happy birthday, dear mommy, happy birthday to you. I give you one beautiful, multi-colored pink rose. But, when I think about it, in reality, you brought me an illumination of you, today…on your birthday, within that one beautiful, mult-colored pink rose. As always, your selflessness shines bright. My gift to you…the rose, your gift to me…the rose…Flowery Fran.

I felt you near, it brightened the beginning of my day. I hope my prose brightens yours.

I love you, dear mommy.