Gardenias hold special memories

Gardenias have always been my favorite flower, all the way back to my high school prom days, and they bring with them a host of happy memories.

In my late teens I was fortunate enough to attend a number of proms: first there was Ralph who arrived at my door with corsage box in hand. Poor Ralph was at that awkward age, and he stumbled over the doorstep on his way in. I still remember my father covering his mouth to disguise his laughter.

Another prom date was Matt, who was graduating from a private Quaker academy. We had to greet a long receiving line at the hotel where the prom was held. On this occasion I was given a large wrist-corsage of gardenias.

Then there was Charlie, a tall lad my parents liked. He arrived in a sports car with gardenias bound with ribbons in the colors of his fraternity.

And then there was another prom date - the only one that really mattered. He couldn't afford gardenias, but he brought me a small corsage of chrysanthemums, and he had spent many hours shoveling snow to buy it. Of all of these floral offerings, you can guess which one was the one I saved after the prom, and kept in my bureau drawer until it disintegrated!

Gardenias are still my favorite flower, and many years later, that same prom date walked down a hospital corridor carrying a large copper tray with six carefully arranged gardenias to celebrate the February birth of our first son.

Sometimes we women know what we want, and, if we're lucky, we get it.

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Have you heard about the new Rejoice fitness class for seniors? This is a five-week series of low-impact aerobics, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday beginning Jan. 15. The fee is only $15 for the complete course. It will be offered at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church, 75 Fairpoint Drive. To join this lively group, call Kathy at 932- 3594.

Well folks, with all these things to do, you can count on having a busy year while keeping slim and trim too.

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According the US Department of Education, the average hospital 'Informed Consent' form is written at a graduate school reading level, yet it is estimated that 40 million Americans can barely read at all. Our rate of illiteracy in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties is about ten percent, according to Margaret Poppell, a longtime board member of Learn to Read of Northwest Florida. If you have time to help another adult learn to read, call this nonprofit, all-volunteer agency at 850-432-4347 and find out how you can help.

See you next week.