Wildflowers greet us everywhere we go. On a recent trip to Union City, you sat perched on the truck's window edge admiring the blooms that trailed down the interstate. You wanted Mommy to stop to pick a few blooms....
An image of Daddy's knuckles embracing a handful of white flowers that you made him stop and pick vividly remains in my memory. The two of you walked through the backdoor and the wildflowers glistened as you embraced me...."flowers for you Mommy!" Although my camera didn't capture Daddy's hands around them or the sheer delight on your face....or my memory the story of where you all had been together, the heart's shutter captured the wild, fierce love that you exhibit for me. There's nothing more joyful than love.....love that binds us as one leaves traces of wildflowers as she softly touches the world around her.
A week ago on our Saturday trip to Jackson, you asked to stop to pick the wildflowers: black centers and golden petals for Daddy. You wanted to add them to his Father's Day gift. As we veered off the last exit for Dyersburg, I pulled the almost on E truck over to the side of the road. We held hands and hurriedly crossed the exit to pick wild blooms for Daddy's coffee mug. "Mommy, can you pick them!?!" you asked. I did just that.......for you.....for Daddy-O!
The circle of wildflowers.....of love for one another runs wild in our family. Half across the world, a new collection of wildflowers embrace us.....little hands stop to pick them for me, for Yiayia......some we call off by names like the Poppy. Others we name by colors or shapes.....the memories left filling our hearts.....a smile quietly emerged as Papou pulled the car over in the middle of the road to climb a mountain for beautiful white lilies for Yiayia. You wanted to join him among the thorns and wild brush but your shorts and flip-flops held you back.
Throughout the week as we've enjoyed walks throughout the village, you picked purple wildflowers, red poppies, white heart shaped flowers, daisies and more. The little flowers fall to the bottom of my handbag reminding me of your love of wildflowers and family------ordinary flowers in the midst of the valleys and mountains of Greece....ordinary love of colors among the flat & hilly lands in West Tennessee. Little vases filled with wildflowers grace our home's windowsill often! Magical, memorable wildflower blooms also echo that same sentiments at Yiayia's and Papou's home in Zitsa, Greece.
As we walk, skip, run, and race past wildflowers, we can always expect to hear a "wait" or "stop" only to see you stopping to pick one more wildflower to inspect, to touch, to give in love......You're my favorite little wildflower. You bloom where you're planted evoking unexpected moments of joy in our lives.
Although I love many, many flowers unique blooms throughout the seasons, I think I might always find the most joy in the wild ones---the little wildflowers that grow in unexpected places that remind me to slow down, stop and pick a handful to display....
I love you little wildflower!
XOXOXO
An image of Daddy's knuckles embracing a handful of white flowers that you made him stop and pick vividly remains in my memory. The two of you walked through the backdoor and the wildflowers glistened as you embraced me...."flowers for you Mommy!" Although my camera didn't capture Daddy's hands around them or the sheer delight on your face....or my memory the story of where you all had been together, the heart's shutter captured the wild, fierce love that you exhibit for me. There's nothing more joyful than love.....love that binds us as one leaves traces of wildflowers as she softly touches the world around her.
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| Our Windowsill on Sampson Ave |
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| A Surprise Gift for Daddy-O |
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| Meandering to the Village: A Wildflower Stop |
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| Wild Lilies for Yiayia |
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| A handful of wildflowers from our walk through the village. |
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| Wild for Wildflowers |
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| Poppies red and vibrant softly dancing.... |
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| Poppies growing on this rock wall in Zitsa. |
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| Velvety, purple mini wild blooms.... |
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| A purple wildflower among the velvety, honey colored Lamb's Ear wildflowers! |
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| Wildflowers Among the Mountains & Valleys: Zitsa, Greece |
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| A Little Handful of JOY |
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| Sophia---a walk, her baby & mini digital camera: capturing wildflowers! |
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| Unexpected Wild Daisies on Saturday Morning's Walk with Papou |
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| HEART shaped petals---unexpected moments of JOY! |
I love you little wildflower!
XOXOXO
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