Roses

My first year in Tuscaloosa, I bought myself roses. I dried them, and since have moved them around the city each year--this house is their fourth home. I was thinking last week that when I leave Tuscaloosa I will also leave these old, dead flowers behind. And then, the other day, MP showed up with roses--an actual rose bush--to encourage me while working on my dissertation (I'm finally getting close...but am at home working today, which is probably why I feel like blogging). I potted them yesterday and love them! They provide such a stark and symbolic contrast to my crumbling alternative. It makes me want to throw out the old flowers early...and I just might.