March 2025 "Bloom" by Luis Barba

When I think back to my youth, I remember how my mom used to admire flowers anywhere we went. We would stop and smell the roses on our walk to the park. Sometimes, if she was feeling especially inspired, she would come across some flowers and cut some off to take home. She would go home and plant these flowers, which would bloom in time. Her admiration for flowers always encouraged my own admiration and allowed me to grow fond of them.

I remember the times as a child when I would come across the prettiest flowers, and it always made me think of my mom. I would often come across different flowers and think to myself, “My mom would love these.”

I think about the rose bushes my grandmother had planted in front of her yard and find myself yearning for my childhood. These bushes were much bigger than I was and had the brightest colors. She would always let my mom take some of these flowers home with her where we would plant them ourselves. Our backyard still has flower bushes to this day which gives me peace of mind.

When I think of flowers, I think about my grandmother and grandfather who tragically passed away. They spent most of their days tending to their garden growing a variety of things. They grew many fruits, trees, and gorgeous flowers. I wish that they were still here to be able to help bloom more flowers into the world. I think about the roses I dropped into their casket before never seeing them again. My last memory of them lies with the flowers my family planted in their final resting place.

In joy and in grief, flowers have always given me the warmth of their presence. When I think about flowers, I think about my love life and the relationships I have been in. I have given and received many flowers from the women and men I have dated throughout my life. I think about the flowers I have given to my mother, sister, and niece on special occasions and just because. I often find myself decorating my home and room with flowers and flower decor. We currently have over 6 bouquets in my home that my mother received for her birthday. Flowers are universal. They mark the path behind us and the path forward. They bring people together in moments of love and vulnerability. If you haven’t already, consider getting yourself or your loved ones some flowers to spread that little bit of joy in this vast world. In seeing these flowers bloom, I have bloomed into the person I am today.