a lesson in aging.

...from tulips.

as pretty as they are cut fresh from the garden (I have been oohing and aahing over jane brocket's harvest - start here and work backwards to see what I mean!), I think they get even prettier as they age.

I love the way their stems bend and twist - and as delicate as those stems look, they're sturdy.

these are the same tulips I shared last week... now about ten days old

the flowers seem to come alive - so open and expressive - as the petals spread, and then one by one, fall.

this is how I want to age - keeping my limbs strong even as they're bent and hard to straighten...my face expressive and open...