Mansfield, Texas
Congratulations Tiffany!
Tiffany’s Bio:
Tiffany Chartier is a passionate and joyful soul that shares life with her amazing family. She has recently finished writing her first young adult novel, and has begun the process of searching for the right agent. Tiffany has already had several short stories selected for publication, and continues to write after her kiddos are in bed. In one word, Tiffany is thankful – thankful for all the blessings in her life. Her email address is whimfly@hotmail.com. She would love to hear from you!
The Pale Yellow Vase
The cardboard box filled with vases rattled as I drove down the gravel road. My ears have recognized this sound since diapers. Until I moved away for college, this road was the only path to the place I called home.
Once a year, the jumping rocks matched the beating of my heart as we pulled away for summer vacation. Our red ice chest and grocery bags filled the trunk with all the fixings for a week’s worth of meals at one of the Texas State Parks. Each summer Dad would pick a different park for us to visit. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed sharing this love my mom, brother, and me.
I have yet to find a man more in love with his wife than my dad is with Mom. I don’t ever remember him walking past her without giving her a gentle touch, a kiss, or a loving look. That’s why I am making this trip to see him. This is the first time since their courtship that Dad will experience a June without her. Five months ago, Mom passed from heart failure. It seems ironic that someone with a heart so full of joy would have it fail on her: Maybe it was just too much to expect a human heart to sustain an angel’s love.
Mom was known for was having fresh flowers in the house. She always said fresh color on the table brightens the mood. During our camping trips, Mom made a point of going to town and choosing a vase as a souvenir for our trip. She would display flowers in the vase for us to enjoy all week. The rattling box beside me is filled with many of those special vases: One in particular stands out – a broken pale yellow vase.
Dad’s eyes filled when he saw me coming inside with the box of vases. Each one represented a summer memory of hotdogs, stories, fishing, and card games. “Dad, do you remember this vase?” I asked as I pulled it from the box.
“That is the vase from Lake Mineral Wells. That was the last camping trip you went on with your mother and me before you left for college.”
“Yes, that’s right. Do you remember how it broke?”
Dad chuckled. “You accidentally hit the top of it on the spigot trying to fill it up. I thought your mom was going to wring your neck, but she didn’t. She just took the vase from you and started arranging the flowers.”
“She told me it was a part of life, and that we shouldn’t be afraid to display it – it was still mostly beautiful. That was the most memorable trip and best advice I ever received. Dad, I want you to remember that life is still mostly beautiful. Mom would want you to pick up the broken pieces and keeping going.”
A little while later, Dad and I went outside to pick wildflowers. We had a broken vase to fill.
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