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A Story Of A Rose, A Photo Of Another
I don't remember ever seeing so much blue sky during a Portland winter as we've seen these last two weeks. More than once, I've caught myself looking out the window and thinking about summer.
Remember Charlie Brown's friend Pigpen? In the summer of 2004, I had a date with a woman who was his emotional equivalent; always surrounded by a cloud of gloom. Is it bad that I don't remember her name? I sure do remember the rose.
It's illegal to pick roses in Washington Park, by the way. Apparently, she did not know this. It should be illegal to be a bitch.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
She picked a flower - the most perfect rose.
Standing among the rows of roses in Washington Park, she held hers to the sky, inspecting it to confirm the perfection she'd sought. She breathed in deep, filling herself completely with its soothing scent.
She said "Everything dies. I guess that's why I think it's better to live for today instead of always planning on the future. For all we know, the future might never come. What kind of future is this rose going to have? Looks to me like the answer is 'none'."
And with that, she cast aside the flower, sending it twirling over her shoulder as she walked away.
"It's getting late" she said in a tone that reminded me of her comment about the rose. And with that, our evening was cast aside as well.
Well, that's fine.
Everything dies.
A flower.
An evening.
And eventually, a life.
Everything dies.
But while it lived, that flower was the most perfect rose. And while I live, my time is too precious to waste on negativity such as hers.
The sun had barely set when we said goodnight, leaving me with plenty of time to stroll back through Washington Park before making my way back home. As I suspected, the rose was lying on the ground, right where she'd left it. I picked it up and brought it with me.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Speaking of roses, I spotted this frozen beauty in the South Park Blocks during last month's snowstorm.
Sadly, this one didn't end up in a vase in my apartment.
::::: | Filed under: photos
::::: | Posted Friday, Feb 02 2007 at 12:43 PM
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Alice said:
I have often wished I could save wasted time in a baggy and put it into a freezer. Then I could take it out and use it during beautiful days. Or save up enough baggies and be able to cash them in somehow and go back in time to a certain day.
::::: | Posted February 3, 2007 12:03 AM
Lisa said:
Love the photo Rob! I like the pigpen analogy too. I know people like that.
::::: | Posted February 3, 2007 11:40 AM
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