November 10, 2011

November Rose.

Those of you who have ever been moving know that it comes across like an endless process. Particularly the ultimate phase, when one is almost done and then again not quiet yet and when long days turn into late nights and all that remains is total exhaustion.

I am in that last phase right now and thus I have not been able to visit any of your lovely places, for which I apologize. I hope to do so as soon as my life returns to a somewhat familiar routine, which will be shortly.

The house is though now almost empty. It's rooms echo my footsteps and the music streaming out of the radio, reminding me of the time when I moved in. Serendipitously this was also in the month of November, thus I feel my time there has come full circle.
As I was collecting the last of my potted plants from my back terrace the other day, just when dusk was settling over the neighborhood ending a foggy, drizzly late autumn day, I had to pause for a moment as a feeling of familiarity overcame me. The place came across so barren and deserted, so empty of life, just like it did those eight years ago.
Then I saw it.
A single November Rose blooming in all its splendor on my old rosebush, this late in the year, when everything else in nature seems lifeless.

It came across as a beautiful sign of hope and a sweet fragrant gift which the house bestows upon me as I say my farewells. A miracle of nature confirming the fact that everything in life is truly connected.

(I managed to take these two snapshots with my old Nikon Coolpix, which I had with me, just before it run out of battery.)

31 comments:

Elizabeth said...

A beautiful rose to celebrate the start of a new phase in your life. Mother Nature wanted you to have it as you so deserve it.

lilybets said...

This rose would tell you "thank you for the love you gave us, please save this home in your heart".
A big hugs,my dear friend.

Reading Tea Leaves said...

It's beautiful!

Jeanne
x

Brian Miller said...

nice...what a beautiful rose you were blessed with...did you take a clipping for the new place? it was probably one last gift for all the beauty you brought to your old place...travel light my friend...

Becky said...

Oh the rose is gorgeous.I snapped a pic of my last one the other day.It was so gorgeous.Now I have to wait for the long months ahead to see anymore.

Thanks for your visits as always,Blessings!

G said...

I know that feeling so well, the walking around the empty rooms, the echoing footsteps. It always surprises me how so much of what makes a home a home is our *stuff*! And the feeling of home slips away faster and faster as we drive away, and soon we are in our new nest, with our bits and pieces, and before long, it's definitely home again.

G said...

Oh, and I love that final rose... what a beautiful parting gift from your garden. May your tenants love your home as much as you have.

Rebecca said...

Dear friend, I will be in a similar place next spring as I say farewell to my home of 17 years. I can only imagine the forgotten memories that will reignite during that process.

Zuzana, the November rose you have there is beautiful. It's still delicate, yet strong enough to endure some harsh, cold weather.

Rahul Bhatia said...

The lone rose is a symbol of your own self with a promise to continue to bloom where ever you go!

Anonymous said...

What a perfect rose! It speaks of ending and new beginnings.

Anonymous said...

Splendid! I agree moving is an endless and exhausted process, but seeing the things done and being able to contemplate the stillness and beauty of what is around us is a precious gift.
Roses have this power to make every day a new adventure.

Donna said...

It was waiting for you.

Hugs,
Donna

Slamdunk said...

Thanks for sharing the photo.

Moving wears me out--I hope all goes well.

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely gift! Wishing you joy in your new home, Zuzana!

A Lady's Life said...

I love it when you get signs like this to make you feel good about everything.
The rose felt the beauty in you and bloomed just for you that day. It was smiling and wishing you luck and love and telling you all is good.

:)

A Plain Observer said...

wait...you got a rose in November??? that is certainly a sign! your new life is full of wonderful surprises.

Anonymous said...

It was definitely a good sign. How beautiful!

bright star said...

Moving is a very stressful time,we have to change our place of safety and even if you really want to move on the feeling of loss can still be there. The beautiful roae was your goodbye gift.lol Angela

Hilary said...

Your previous home wishing you luck in your new space.

Mimi said...

Echoing Hilary's eloquent comment...

Rajesh said...

I understand you. My parents moved out to different town some months back. The house is still not in order.

tony said...

May A Thousand Roses Bloom!

Betsy Brock said...

Don't you just love little signs like that? There is no such thing as coincidence. :)

SandyCarlson said...

What a beautiful sign of hope. I am glad you are nearing the end of this process and finding peace.

My beloved grandmother left us a beautiful November rose the day of her memorial service. It was a magical gift. Beautiful thing.

Christmas-etc... said...

Oh what an exciting time for you! And for that rose to pop out in all its splendor as if to say, "Well done, Zuzana, for moving on with your life as you are led!" Many blessings for a wonderful new adventure - maybe one that will last a lifetime!
Ann

sprinkles said...

What a gorgeous rose! I hope you cut it off and brought it home with you.

Yes, I do remember moving! We did it a lot when I was a kid but my parents did all the major work and I only had to unpack my room.

When I bought my house and moved in, it was overwhelming having to pack and unpack everything, trying to find a place for it all. I left a lot of it sitting in boxes for months until one day, I finally couldn't stand it anymore.

I was just thinking the other day that if I ever moved out of my house, whatever the reason, it would be quite sad. I've lived here for 8.5 years now and it's seen me through a lot of tough times. I'd really miss it. It's the first place where I really felt like I was a full grown adult.

Amanda Summer said...

blessings dear zuzana on finishing this last push in your move. i believe the rose is a reminder that beauty is always around us, even when we are too busy to stop and take notice. it reminds me of a saying i recently heard: festina lente - "make haste slowly"

have a beautiful week,

xoxo

amanda

Kim said...

Haven't caught up with your blog for quite some time...I have kept up with your facebook however and I know of this wonderful man you speak of. I didn't know you were moving...how wonderful and what a life change! Good for You! I for one could not pack up all my possessions now...way too many, although my wonderful man packed them all up for me when I just got too overwhelmed 17 1/2 years ago! Now we have so much stuff, they will just have to board up the doors and windows when we pass on! Good Luck to you, Sweetie!

Ash said...

I've moved several times in my life of 27 years and I know just how stressful it can be.

I wish you all the best with your move and new place.

Lynne said...

What a poignant description. Brings it all back to me.

Zuzana said...

My dear friends, I will miss that rosebush.
I posted numerous pictures of it over the years. A couple of years back it even grew an almost open rosebud in December and a sudden frost eternelized it for months, as it remained pristine until spring.

It is such a resilient plant, coming back strong by each spring and blooming with the most fragrant and deep red roses.

I agree with you, that its last flower was wonderful sign - before I left the house for good I cut it and placed the rose in a vase in the house, as a welcome gift for the new tenants.
They enjoyed the sentiment.

Thank you all for your endless visits and kind comments...

Xoxo
Zuzana