Sue’s photo prompt today reminded me of the first bunch of roses Hubby Dearest gave to me when we were dating. He was a student, so they were never going to be the full-headed, huge, deep red blooms that you need to take a loan out to afford.

But they were roses, there was a dozen, they were red, and they were mine!

I was so touched, I wanted to keep them forever!

Remembering the advice of a friend, instead of trimming them, and sticking them in a vase, I used twine to secure the bunch and then hung them to dry, upside down.  They dried beautifully, with their little heads held high.  The colour faded. What aroma they had, disappeared. But they never failed to raise a smile, when I looked at them. I kept them for a few years, but they got to a state where they started to disintegrate, so I had to say goodbye to them…

Then, two weeks ago, at my parents, I found myself giving my mum the same upside down drying advice! Pops and mum had been away from each other for 5 weeks, as my brother sustained an injury, falling on ice in Finland, where he lives.  Mum went over to him to help out a bit, and Pops was left, home alone.  He keeps busy, but I know how much he missed mum! And when she arrived back, he bought her a beautiful bunch of roses, romantic old fool, my darling Pops!

When I went to visit, they had been sat there for 2 weeks in a vase and were still in amazing condition. Only one bloom was starting to droop. Mum proudly showed her flowers off, and as they were in such good nick, I suggested she dry them upside down, as a wonderful memory!

The photo immediately brought a thought of a haiku to mind, and here it is…

Withering away
Yet showing ageless beauty
Sparking memories

Ritu 2016