inspired by romance, daydreams, and blush envy....

about me~

why I love roses so darn much~

What is up with the endless crush on roses around here???
It's simple. I love my Grandpa.
He's not here anymore, he passed several years back now. But it's crazy the things you love by genetics.

My grandpa loved to garden. And my grandpa loved his roses.
He grew the most stunning roses.
It's no secret I inherited the love of both gardening and roses.
But the real connection is far more emotional.
My Grandpa was someone I admire very much. He was indeed a super hero.

My grandparents were born into a small, communist country. There was nothing. No food, no money, no opportunities. And no hope for a better future for his family.
So right after their first two children were born(twin girls), and under threat of death, they snuck their way out of the country.
And while any normal person would've been happy escaping alive, it wasn't enough for him.
Friends an family had been left behind. They were trapped.
Leaving my Grandmother and the twins in a safe location, he went back again, and again, and again, and again, until he had helped 16 other families escape.
Can you imagine?
They stayed in a refugee camp in Greece for several years (my dad was born there) before immigrating here to the U.S.

My grandparents had 8 children, a large family by any standard.
To feed and clothe his family, my grandfather worked as a dishwasher. He held down three jobs(at the same time) for years, until he had gleaned enough knowledge, and saved enough money to start up his own family restaurant.
He never complained, didn't take handouts, believed in working hard, and doing the right thing no matter the personal cost.
He wanted to provide his family with an opportunity to a better life.  And he certainly did.

I only hope that when I need it, when the opportunity arives, that I'll find I have inherited his courage as well as his love for roses.

 

how they're made