01/21/03 - I was once asked to baby-sit a rose … it was Jewel's rose, the singer Jewel. I guess the rose was thrown to her while performing on stage. I don't know whether she actually acknowledged it or not. I wasn't there. An admirer of hers scavenged the rose as a souvenir. Well, it was as nice a rose as roses get. And I'm assuming the admirer thought I could benefit from the rose in all its freshly blooming glory. The admirer, on the other hand, would be satisfied with a dried reminder. So, I was delegated to baby-sit the rose as it went through its everlasting metamorphosis. The beautiful, pink rose brought me a lot of pleasure. It's stem was nourished by a small, attached vile of water. It lasted for days in all its glory. And then, it began to dry. I was careful with it. I hung it so that its blossom would stay in a natural shape. It looked as beautiful dry as it had fresh. And then I returned it to its owner.
When I first received that rose, I was a little miffed. What is the point of keeping something so lovely, only to have to give it up? Why deal with something that would never be mine? I even wondered if I would be able to give it up. In the end, I gave the rose back. I had done my job well. I had, indeed, benefited from the experience.
Sometimes opportunities come to us that we don't really understand. I've had my share, for sure. I've felt at times that I was in situations that might not be the best for me, that might be too difficult. But for some reason, I took on the challenge anyway, jumped right in there. I would do my best even if the outcome were uncertain. Some opportunities were short lived, like the rose. Some opportunities ended with only memories as souvenirs. These memories are precious to me. I have no regrets.
I knew these thoughts would come in handy. I saved them for a rainy day! |
