Easter Lilies and Justice
by Elouise
Dear Diane,
Easter Sunday always reminds me of you. Not just because you were born on Easter Sunday in 1949, but because the Easter lilies at church always take me back to your funeral service and heaps of Easter lilies around the casket at the front of the church.
Today was no different. I walked in, saw the Easter lilies and tulips, and dissolved into tears as we sang the first hymn. It all came flooding back, along with a story Dad told me when he was in hospice care.
The story was about you and his flower garden in our back yard. Maybe you remember it. That was when we lived on the river. The flower garden had tons of flowers, including Easter lilies and Dianthus, all planted by Dad. He used to say the Dianthus were there because they reminded him of you.
One day Dad noticed that some of his special Easter lilies were missing from his flower garden. When he went back into the house he found them–in flower vases and glass jars here and there!
It didn’t take long to find out you had done this dastardly deed. He said you listened quietly without tears. Then as you turned to walk away you asked, “Where are the flowers for the children?” Cut him to the quick, he said. And I have to admit, he had tears in his eyes as he told the story.
Do you remember that square patch of flowers near the rear of the back yard? It wasn’t very large. Maybe 5 feet wide. It had posts with twine supports for some of the flowers. Most were bright zinnias.
Dad told me, with tears in his eyes, that he planted that flower garden just for the children. We could pick them anytime, as many as we wished. All because you had the guts to ask the most important question of all. “Where are the flowers for the children?”
Today I wonder the same thing. Sadly, we’ve gone downhill when it comes to things for the children. Flowers for the children tend to show up after children or teenagers are killed with guns. Survivors are asking all of us so-called grownups, “Where are the safe places for the children?”
That’s another subject, except for this: It takes guts to stand up and fight for the rights of children and young people. I’m rooting for the children and young people.
Love and hugs, plus Happy Easter and Happy April Birthday—not that you’re counting anymore!
Elouise♥
©Elouise Renich Fraser, 1 April 2018, adapted from an earlier post
Photo credit: wallpapersup.net (Easter Lilies); robsplants.com (Dianthus)
Easter Sunday 1949, my 14th birthday, those were the days when people thought I’d enter the church and become the Archbishop or Canterbury.
If I live another 4 years I shall celebrate my 87th on Easter Sunday 2022, and that’ll be my last Easter Birthday as I don’t expect to live to 2033
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Amazing, Brian! Who would have guessed we were almost related?! I’m pulling for your 87th in 2022. 😲😊💐
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I’m pulling for my 93rd 😀 😈
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oops 98th
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You just might make it! You and Diane are also connected by childhood polio. And, in my opinion, by your straight-talking ways.
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I was fortunate. I made a full recovery and am still going 🙂
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I remember that fabulous story, Elouise, and so appreciate you sharing it again! I cried on Saturday as I set the wooden crosses my Dad made on the round tables for Easter breakfast (in the gym). Love is stronger than whatever is not love…thank God, and thank you (from the Berkshires, where I drove yesterday to see a dear friend who is quite ill). I awoke to snow, where yesterday there was grass…surprise! I hoped that you all were spared! ☺
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Well…it looked like it was going to be worse than it was. It started fading away a couple of hours ago, though we’re not going to be getting much warmer than the 40s today. Thanks for your comment about your tears, your Dad, and the power of love against what it not love. So true and hard all at the same time.
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Elouise, thank you for this beautiful tribute to Diane. She contributed more to my life by far than anyone else I’ve ever known and I greatly miss her. Also thank you for the tears.
Clay
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You’re so welcome, Clay. I can’t imagine being the woman I am today without having known Diane as an adult. Or without watching the two of you and your children caring for her when she had ALS. Your hospitality to me and so many others during those years was amazing.
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a lovely story E and it so touched me, I think you and Diane are both strong and would send flowers in this but not on my iPad with the lovely emoji’s so we shall just pretend that each of these are flowers *
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Thank you kindly, Kim. I love the little star-flowers! 🙂 And Diane, too. And you.
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❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
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[…] have serious health issues. They live at great distances from each other and from me. Sister #3, Diane, died of ALS after living with it for ten years. In some ways, she was my closest sister. I’ve […]
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