hope.

Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul
And sings the tune without words,
and never stops at all.
--Emily Dickinson

"When you have hope, you have everything." --fortune from a fortune cookie that I have had taped over my desk at work for the last year



My African Violet is blooming. Isn't it lovely? It was a houswarming gift from my father from when I first moved into my house last year. We had lots of African Violets in my house when I was growing up. The leaves are fuzzy and soft, and I was scolded every time I tried to stroke them.



African Violets were one of my paternal grandmother's favorite plants. Grannie loved them, which is likely why my dad likes them and why we had so many in our house when I was a child. When my dad first gave me the plant, it had several flowers on it. The flowers, of course, died off over time, leaving behind only the tempting green leaves. I admit that I haven't always taken the best care of this plant, but it has remained very near and dear to my heart...a kind of connection to my grandmother. I was very fearful that the plant had perhaps died, since it was taking so long to bloom, and I knew I should have been taking better care of it.



But, look at it now! The flowers are so perfectly purple. It gives me strength to look at it.

Funny how when your life is feeling like shit, a simple thing like a flowering African Violet can offer you some hope.

(Other things that are giving me hope right now: I applied for a new job, I am going to Mexico in one week, my friend is about to have a baby, and I AM GOING TO MEXICO IN ONE WEEK.)