Rose

Today is Sant Jordi, a Catalan holiday I only found out about yesterday. Basically, on Sant Jordi women give their men a book and men give their women a rose. So the beach front was littered with stalls selling both, and everywhere I looked I saw people carrying presents. Sweet. Old men carrying bouquets home, young blushing boys handing a single one to a giggling girl…really, sweet.

I browsed for a while and considered buying something for myself. A rose then, since I’m the girl, and as you know I love them. But I’m also a total book worm. And I thought briefly that maybe women are getting the dodgy end of the bargain here. Think about it. A rose: costs about 3 euros, lasts a week. A book: costs about twenty euros, lasts a lifetime. And you can’t spend a whole day absorbed in a flower…In the end I bought neither. Felt a little silly really, so I slowly wandered home.

When I settled in front of my laptop a while later, I noticed I received an email from a local almost-friend. Dear TR, it read, all women receive a rose today, and it would be a shame if a woman like you didn’t receive one on her first Sant Jordi. Attached was a picture of a rose…

Now that is honest to goodness kindness. And, sentimental sap that I am, it really made my day.