Flowers, the happy kind.

"Death is the mother of beauty. Only the perishable can be beautiful, which is why we are unmoved by artificial flowers."
-Wallace Stevens

Funny story.  I was in 8th grade and we were about to begin our lesson on symbolism.  My teacher (whom I adored) asked the class what we thought flowers stood for.  We were about to start reading "Flowers for Algernon" and she wanted us to give our opinion on what the flowers in the title meant.  Of course, my hand was the first to go up.  Asalways.   It's not for nothing I won the vote for "Overall Brilliance" in that class.  "Yes, Renata, what are your thoughts", said my teacher.  And, I, brace yourself, said in the most serious of faces, "Well, I believe it symbolizes death and dying, you know, as in a funeral?".  The  entire class went silent as they glared at me.  Um, had I said something wrong?  My teacher, she laughed, and in the most gentle of ways said, "Will someone PLEASE buy Renata some flowers, she must get that idea out of her head".  Turns out, I was right.  And, it's not as though my view on flowers are entirely morbid.  It just so happens that at that moment, at that time, something told me that was the right answer.  Creepy.  I know.  I'm really not your average girl.

Fast forward about 10 years.  I do like flowers.  Not in a funeral-arrangement-kind of way.  But, in a, I-am-thinking-of-you-so-here-is-something-beautiful kind of way.  And, though there are other things I'd prefer, I mean, flowers, they sorta die.  I do appreciate their beauty.  Just don't under any circumstance buy me Roses.  Ugh.  So, so, so, so (I-cannot-stress-this-enough) overplayed.  It's like buying someone a heart shaped box on Valentine's day.  Who are you, Captain Original?  And, personally, I feel that you buy someone Roses when you don't really know them.  It's safe.  And, I'm not one for playing it safe.  Except when it comes to staying away from psychopaths, then I am "Cautious Carrie".  I've watched one too many of True Hollywood Story "Beautiful and Missing" episodes to wander around dark alleys late at night.  Or to park next to white creepy looking vans.  Call me paranoid, whatevs.

If you do ever want to gift me with some sort of flowery thing, here is what I like.  Peonies, hydrangeas, and tulips.  Not necessarily in that particular order.  And, if you are asking for my forgiveness, flowers are not the way to go.  After the scenario in my 8th grade class, I try to keep the connotation of the word flowers in a positive light.  I try, I try.
xoxo

Hydrangeas-Tulips, but, never, ever, Roses.