Even as a child, there was something about daffodils that drew me to them. I'm not sure if it was the bright yellow bursting forth into spring after a long winter or the shape of the petals or perhaps the scent. However, daffodils are the first flower that I remember really enjoying as a flower.
Whenever I see a daffodil, I can not help but smile and then pass that smile along to everyone I meet. I find myself cheery and happy and feeling energetic in spite of what is going on in my life. I wish I could explain it but it just feels like the awakening of daffodils from the long winter's rest waken in me something moods and emotions that I bury to get through the tough times.
My favorite daffodil memory is from the spring of 1979. I was away from home - at college - and dating my first (and only) boyfriend. We were walking the back pathway to town through the forest when we came upon a patch of daffodils. To this day, I have no idea who planted them there or how they got there. We stopped to smell them and enjoy them and then headed on towards town.
Although we shopped and walked for quite a while, I could not help but think of them and made sure that we passed by them on our way home. When we saw them again, I couldn't resist the urge to pick them - and pick them we did - ALL of them.
As we walked back to the college, we talked about how beautiful they were and how great they smelled. I shared with my boyfriend about my love of daffodils and how much they meant to me. We decided, together, at his urging, to share them with others.
So we walked to the college post office and asked the manager if she would put a daffodil in the mailbox of each student that we gave her the names of. We gave her all but one daffodil and I walked away with my lone treasure of the last flower.
It wasn't mine for long though. A dear friend saw it and remarked on how pretty it was. I could tell from her body language that she'd had a bad day and of course - I gave away my final blossom.
To this day, I remember that experience and how for one brief moment, I stopped thinking about only myself and passed along some joy to another.
I still love daffodils and they still bring out the best in me. My husband knows now that if he wants to show me love - one of the best ways to do it is not to bring me store bought roses, carnations, lilies or orchards...but instead...to pick a single daffodil whenever he can and bring me that.
Whenever I see a daffodil, I can not help but smile and then pass that smile along to everyone I meet. I find myself cheery and happy and feeling energetic in spite of what is going on in my life. I wish I could explain it but it just feels like the awakening of daffodils from the long winter's rest waken in me something moods and emotions that I bury to get through the tough times.
My favorite daffodil memory is from the spring of 1979. I was away from home - at college - and dating my first (and only) boyfriend. We were walking the back pathway to town through the forest when we came upon a patch of daffodils. To this day, I have no idea who planted them there or how they got there. We stopped to smell them and enjoy them and then headed on towards town.
Although we shopped and walked for quite a while, I could not help but think of them and made sure that we passed by them on our way home. When we saw them again, I couldn't resist the urge to pick them - and pick them we did - ALL of them.
As we walked back to the college, we talked about how beautiful they were and how great they smelled. I shared with my boyfriend about my love of daffodils and how much they meant to me. We decided, together, at his urging, to share them with others.
So we walked to the college post office and asked the manager if she would put a daffodil in the mailbox of each student that we gave her the names of. We gave her all but one daffodil and I walked away with my lone treasure of the last flower.
It wasn't mine for long though. A dear friend saw it and remarked on how pretty it was. I could tell from her body language that she'd had a bad day and of course - I gave away my final blossom.
To this day, I remember that experience and how for one brief moment, I stopped thinking about only myself and passed along some joy to another.
I still love daffodils and they still bring out the best in me. My husband knows now that if he wants to show me love - one of the best ways to do it is not to bring me store bought roses, carnations, lilies or orchards...but instead...to pick a single daffodil whenever he can and bring me that.
