Cherry Blossom Season - What It Means To Me
*Disclaimer: let me know where to pay you for this therapy session.
The JOMO April box had a blossom theme going on. Why? Well, for me, blossom is as nostalgic as you can get and I wanted to share a bit of my childhood with our members and now with you. Plus, it tastes blimmin' delicious.
Blossom is so short lived but absolutely beautiful and I have always dreamed of having it in my garden. I love when you drive through an area with rows of blossom and next year Richard and I plan to go to Japan during blossom season.
When I was young, I spent the week days with my Mum in Buckingham and the weekends with my Dad in Marlow.
We would spend the weekends walking through town, stopping off at a coffee shop while he sipped on a Cappuccino reading the paper. I would scoop the top of the Cappuccino with the chocolatey bit.
He would often comment on nature. The trees, the bright yellow rapeseed in the fields, the birds and especially the blossom. He would paint me the views from the kitchen and turn them into cards.
I remember being totally confused how someone could see a tree as beautiful. As a child that was a weird thought. I could see how the blossom was beautiful though. We would eagerly await blossom season to spot all the different colours and flower variations.
When I was 12, my Dad passed away. There were reminders everywhere. In the songs I heard, the smells that floated my way, when I looked in the mirror and in the seasons.
Blossom season was the one that usually hit me in the face, along with the yellow rapeseed fields. It would make me sad, but during that time of the year I also felt more connected to him than any other time.
With the nature of grief, time goes on and you begin to heal or perhaps get used to the pain. Regardless, things don't hit you in the face quite as regularly. There was one day as I entered 'adulthood' where I remember acknowledging how beautiful a tree was. I felt connected to him all over again and remember having that feeling of 'I wish I could tell him that I understand now! Trees are beautiful!'
I still smile when I see rapeseed fields, unusual trees and of course, blossom. I take de-tours to find them and as I write this, they are out in full force.
So, as we welcome blossom season this year, I wanted to include a number of cherry products as a nod to blossom and as a nod to my Dad. Known for his Champagne drinking, I often wonder what he would think of the alcohol-free bubbly's on the market and what he would think of JOMO! Proud, I am sure.
Thank you for reading this if you have made it to the end and for letting me be super indulgent in telling this story.
Forever grateful for you,
Gemma x