Flowers

As Valentines day approached this year, I was dreading it just a little bit. I've always like Valentines, but mostly because of my Dad and Mom. In my family there are two Valentines Day traditions. My mom always made heart shaped Sugar cookies with yummy pink frosting. And then she'd pipe our names on one in white frosting. I love those cookies. My Dad always sent me flowers and a poem he wrote. No matter where I was flowers magically appeared. But I knew this year neither of those would happen (because I'm not eating sugar, and Dad's not around).

At school the kids could buy a rose or a candy bar and have it delivered to the person of their choice. The day before Valentines one of my little 7th graders received a rose during class. She turned BRIGHT RED and all the boys in the class started to tease her. And in that moment I remembered the first time I received flowers from my Dad.

It was Feb. 1995, I was a freshman in my new small school, Delta High. I didn't have many friends just yet and I longed for a boy to like me (puberty I tell ya). I got called to the office and there on the counter was a giant bouquet of flowers. My heart skipped a beat. Did someone like me?!

Yes, someone did. My dad. I remember feeling really embarrassed that my Dad sent me flowers. And now I had to ride the bus all the way home with the group of boys I liked the most teasing me.

So I stopped the class and to try to turn the attention away from this girl so her skin color could turn to normal, I told that story to my students. And about how my Dad never missed a Valentines day and that this was my first one (being single) without him. Then suddenly the arm of one of the boys shot up, "Ms. Smith, I know what you should do. You should take your Dad some flowers on Valentines day."

I just shook my head and tried to hold back the tears.

To my surprise just when I thought I'd have my first Valentines without flowers a large bouquet of flowers showed up to school.

I miss my Dad. And I imagine I will miss him most on Valentines Day. But I'll be taking him some flowers each year, as my thoughtful student suggested.

Love you Dad!