An Armful of Zinnias

I lost someone yesterday. A woman who came into the family thirty years ago with her arms laden with a bundle of long stemmed glorious zinnias the colors of sunset. That vision has been imprinted on my heart ever since and I will carry it with me always. It seems that the self-centered among us go on and on refusing to give up, while the self-sacrificing ones use themselves up in their devotion and commitment and hold onto nothing for themselves in the end. I tried many times but I could never quite put into words the gratitude I have always felt for her dedication and caring. I have always appreciated her love and her presence.