Our Memorial Day~
was what it has been…
since we moved to Utah 34 years ago.
In California, where I grew up, I honestly had no idea that the day existed because we were first generation Californians–
and we had no family there to honor.
But once my Mama brought us all back “home” where all her family lived…
she showed us the way that she had grown up celebrating this very special day.
My mama would get up early and cut her beloved iris and peonies and put them in buckets of water so they’d open just right.
Once we got to the cemetery she’d arrange the flowers in huge baskets and put them on her mama and daddy’s graves.
I think it made them smile.
She always had a small arrangement for her baby brother too.
My children grew up loving Memorial Day– as a day full of baskets and green grass and kisses and cousins and flags and wet feet and laughing. But it was mostly a beautiful bright summer day with Grandma and Grandpa and lots and lots of flowers. 
Now, all these years later–it still is.
And I think it makes them smile.
