Gramma's Geraniums
cindy has gramma's geraniums but I had forgotten she did. we have them in droves (front & back yard), rob planted them and they took off, mom can't seem to keep them going. but I had forgotten that cindy had them and when I saw a whole corner of them on her porch, i was so hopeful. a little piece of gramma in valencia.
when the glendale house was on the market, i cried a little everyday. my best childhood memories would soon belong to someone else. i even tried a rite of passage by burying a time capsule in a deep hole at the farthest corner of gramma's garden. a place i didn't go nearly enough, behind the patios and pool area, the small gate that led to gramma's passion. insanely big mint leaf plants, blackberry brambles (mom's favorite), zucchini, tomotoes - only remnants & stubborn vines remained as i sat in the dirt and cried. the little jar contained a picture of gramma & grampa in matching hawaiian garb dancing on the cruise. smiling at the camera, gramma showed herself - a happy lady with her loving husband, not a care in the world. wilted, dried flowers from her funeral and a letter telling just how important that house was to this family, and to me.
around the pool, gramma's fuschia geraniums thrived. on the day we took the kids to enjoy grampa's pool one last time, i carefully cut stalks to keep, hoping they would live on in our yards. hoping a piece of gramma would always be there, signifying comfort and love. and they do. even in valencia.
I feel that same way when I see and smell the gardenias at the front walkway at my moms house. My mom can go through a sad time, then suddenly the bush is in full bloom - like my grandma saying it will all be fine - and it makes her smile.
after my dad died my mom moved in with us. and with her she brought a little tree in a bucket. It sat in that bucket for years. when my babies turned 1 year old we planted it in our yard. Tata's Tree is his name. And we hope next year he gives us misperos for the first time. these things do matter and they do keep a part of our history alive.