It began it’s non-retail store shelf life as an anniversary present to my husband’s parents on their fiftieth anniversary. And several years past their sixtieth anniversary, after they had both passed away, it was returned to me. I think my mother-in-law may have thought it was a bit of an outrageous gift; she was a simple woman, a maker of raspberry jam and lemon meringue pies. She often had wildflowers stuck in water glasses on her windowsill. She didn’t need fancy. And being made by Waterford, it was kind of near the top of the fancy scale.
I don’t really need fancy, either, and for a long time it’s been sitting on a shelf, here and there, like some sort of buddha statue we’re supposed to pay homage to. I don’t know, but I guess I had some idea in the back of my mind I should save it for good.
But really, what is good? Isn’t today good? Isn’t tomorrow good?
I’ve checked my schedule thoroughly and I don’t see anything scheduled for the next six months that would require a fancy-schmancy vase of flowers, so unless I plan on just admiring it on a shelf for another few years, I probably ought to start using it.
The Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced “boo-kay”) in me wants to at least save it for long stemmed roses or some other elegant, expensive seasonal offering, but the thought of spending money on expensive flowers that are going to die, well, no, just no.
So, today the inaugural bouquet is of daylilies. Common, simple daylilies.
I’d call that good.