The Purpose Of The Flower

We have a Christmas tradition at our house. Every year I buy my lovely wife a poinsettia. You know, the pretty “Christmas Flowers.” Funny thing about poinsettias, they aren’t naturally red. And they don’t have petals. Those are leaves. And they are naturally green. They raise them in the dark and that makes the leaves turn red.

You might think that June is an odd time to be talking about Christmas traditions and poinsettias. It’s not. We have another tradition. I attempt to keep the poinsettia alive as long as possible. My lovely wife told me I should throw it away today.

But, it’s still alive.

Yeah, but it’s ugly now. The purpose of a flower is to be pretty to look at.

No, the purpose of a flower is to wage a fruitless war with death to see how long I can keep it alive.

I threw it away. I do think June is the longest I’ve ever been able to keep one alive.

Stay safe

Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren. Order Miscellany II, an anthology including his latest short story, “The Mercy System” here

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