A few years ago, spurred by my grandmother’s passing, Alyssa and I were discussing our own burial wishes. Talking about death usually isn’t a pleasant conversation, however, remembering this one still makes me laugh. Alyssa, you can roll your eyes the way teenagers do so well.
It went something like this…
“Alyssa, when I die some day, my body will be in the ground, but my spirit will not. I don’t want you to feel like you have to go to my grave all the time.”
“I know Mom,” she said with a voice that echoed her dislike of talking about this subject AGAIN.
“Maybe I can be buried somewhere that they will allow daffodils to be planted on my grave plot.”
“Why would you want them planted there?” Alyssa asked.
“Well, a daffodil is one of my top two favorite flowers and every year they regenerate to come back with twice as many as the year before. Eventually, daffodils would completely cover my grave!” I said with much enthusiasm.
“Sure,” she said matter-of-factly, “And then I won’t ever have to visit you.”
“Hmmmm, that wasn’t exactly what I was thinking. Don’t you want to visit me?”
“Why Mom? You just said that you wouldn’t be there and now you told me the ground would be covered with daffodils!”
My advice: Be careful what you tell your children!!
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Can’t you relate when he says, “I wandered lonely as a cloud”?
Many times I have “on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood,“ and then began to have memories “flash upon that inward eye” so strongly that I feel almost as if I had just lived it.
Hey Gal! There's another thing we have in common My 2 favorite flowers are daffodils and tulips.
Love ya!
PJ
I love daffodils, too. In fact, I love all flowers. I think they point out the nature of God, who made such a beautiful world.
Oh – I think she would come by – to pick flowers! Daffodils are one of my very favorite, too! There is a field of them on my in-laws farm – near a gravesight.
I would want Daffodils planted over me, too!
http://bluecottonmemory.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/buttercup-and-bluesky-sunday/
or
http://bluecottonmemory.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/special-moments-an-unscheduled-adventure/
or
http://bluecottonmemory.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/an-easter-egg-hunt-where-we-found-more-than-eggs/
Oh – I think she would come by – to pick flowers! Daffodils are one of my very favorite, too! There is a field of them on my in-laws farm – near a gravesight.
I would want Daffodils planted over me, too!
http://bluecottonmemory.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/buttercup-and-bluesky-sunday/
or
http://bluecottonmemory.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/special-moments-an-unscheduled-adventure/
or
http://bluecottonmemory.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/an-easter-egg-hunt-where-we-found-more-than-eggs/
Thanks for commenting on my tech problems. I decided to use both lines (headers) on purpose aftr all. lol It's my version of lemonaide out of lemons.
What do I do if I do want to remove it?
Katharine
Oh how pretty the flowers were, just like you. I remember that conversation you had with Lyssa, I still laugh at her quick responses , only she can do that.lol Kinda like Brit when I ask her to name her girl child after me, and she thought and said"I don't want to name my child Nanny" I still crack up when I think of it.lol I took a walk in your flowers and it felt so good. Mom loves you Sherry
What a beautiful poem! And, what a wonderful idea to have daffodils planted on your grave. I really like that idea and I have thought in passing cementeries how nice it would be to have plants on the gravesites, instead of artifical flowers. I believe I will request perennils such as daffodils to planted on my grave, too. They are really such cheery flowers, aren't they? Thanks for the inspiration.
http://cathykennedystories.blogspot.com
Lovely post! That is why my MIL found a little country cemetery where they can plant flowers and trees and decorate it however you want. People even put holiday decorations and bird feeders on their loved ones' graves. It is peaceful and I love visiting there.
aww I too love daffodils in fact they were part of my bridesmaids bouquet. Kinda hard to think about dying but a sweet post never the less.
I love tulips and light pink roses, and daisies. I may very well have to add daffodils to that list. 😉
Trust me … she'll visit your grave.
I agree, we need to watch what we tell our children. Here you are talking about daffodils on your grave and it's such a beautiful post. Your pictures are so beautiful!
My daughter gave me a plaque!!
"Be nice to your children, they'll be choosing your nursing home."
BRAT!! ;p
I love daffodils, too!! Hubby planted some in our garden and yellow is a HAPPY color!! Occasionally I'll get up and he'll have cut some and put them in a vase on the table! ;D