Beginning to Unfold

This title may seem a bit strange, even cryptic. What does it mean to be folded? What does it mean to unfold? To begin the process of unfolding?

When I wrote the title, one of the things I was thinking about was a rose. There are a dozen pale peach-pink roses in my kitchen, a gift for Mother's Day. (This is one of them.)

I'd been out with one of my daughters on Sunday, buying her groceries and other supplies to take back with her, to tide her over for a couple of weeks. She is going to be away from home for the summer for the first time. We passed by the flowers being sold for Mother's Day, and she said, Do you like these? I could get these for you. Which ones do you want?

I couldn't pick.

Then we went to the checkout lines, me with my cart full of groceries, and her with the bouquet in hand. She said, I think I can go in the express lane, Mom. And the people in the line in front of me and in the next line and the next, all turned to smile.

When we got home and my daughter handed me the bouquet, the roses weren't really roses yet. They were tight little buds. They were folded in on themselves.

Ever since, they have been relaxing, and opening up.

I should admit that I was also thinking of me when I wrote the title. Not me as I am now, me as a child. Me as a tiny bud, before beginning to unfold.

I was thinking about how strange my life is now. So much has ended, and so much seems to be just getting started.

I was remembering the good feeling I'd had writing poems when I was 7 or 8, and sharing them with friends. I remember making up stories, too, and entertaining my cousins with them to keep from going to bed. Once, I made a floppy little book out of paper towels.

That was the beginning, and this is a sort of beginning, too. I am not unfolded yet. Maybe none of us are.

My name is Rae Hallstrom, and Ameriku is my art and my business and my brand.

Ameriku® is the registered trademark of Ameriku Ltd. When you see the Ameriku trademark, you can be sure the work meets my high standards of quality.