THE BOUQUET

            I was reminded of Mother’s Day and a special one always comes to mind…And then I’m back in Mrs. Russell’s third grade classroom at the Bacon School so many years ago…

Two weeks before Mother’s Day “Mis Russell” (as teachers were called in those days – married or not) announced, “How would you all  like to make a Mother’s Day gift?”  Of course, there was  a unanimous agreement with this because we knew this project would get us out of arithmetic for at least a couple of days.

       When we began the next day Mis Russell didn’t tell us what we are making,  but after a couple of days ,we discovered we were making a bunch of paper flowers on white and green “lace doilies”.  The final step was done on the Friday before Sunday.  Mis Russell spayed each bunch of paper flowers with a fragrant cologne from the Woolworth’s 5&10,

I hid my gift in my bedroom until after Sunday School on mom’s special day and presented it to as if it were $100 bucks worth of roses.  With a tear in here eye, she said, “This is the best Mother’s Day gift ever!”

         And for 50 or so years after, its color and scent long faded away - she kept my bouquet on the side of her bureau.  When I was gown and working, I had a real bouquet delivered to her home every year which became our tradition.  She would keep those blooms, as long as possible. 

       But for her, the flowers I made in third grade never withered and died.