The Rose

© Sara L Knoll

I was recently digging through some old school binders and a Polaroid photo fell out. I looked at it, and I couldn't help but cry.

The photo is of my dad and me at a restaurant in our town. I was 17 when it was taken, and I had just graduated high school. I was already in college and doing well, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. That's not true, I knew I wanted to write, but I didn't know if that was a realistic dream.

I was changing my mind almost daily about majoring in dental hygiene/ dance and choreography/ photography/ creative writing/ business. It felt like every decision I made was a bad one and was going to haunt me for the rest of my life.

One night, Dad called me and told me to meet him for dinner. He didn't just pick a casual restaurant or cheap diner, but rather, one of the nicer and more expensive in town. This was exciting, but I was also nervous. I had no idea what he would say, but I was sure it would be something along the lines of “straighten up.”

Instead, we laughed and joked around and ate our dinner, and he told me that whatever I decided to do, it was okay. He said he didn't like seeing me so stressed out and that he would love me no matter what decision I made. The evening would still have been perfect if it had ended there, but it didn't.

An older gentleman came in selling roses and Dad waved him over and bought me the most beautiful rose I have seen or received. It was a dull yellow color with a beautiful, vibrant pink tip. I can still remember it's sweet smell if I try hard enough.

The man asked Dad if I was his daughter, and then he said “Oh, in that case, we gotta take a picture.” He pulled a Polaroid camera out of his bag and snapped the photo, then handed it to me while it was still gray.

I thanked Dad, and he simply shrugged and said, “Well I think you deserve a rose once in a while… I'm proud of you, kid.”

I will never forget that dinner, that rose, or the man who took only our photograph that night… but I will especially never forget the words my dad said to me that night. I try to remember that, even when I'm feeling down about myself. I do deserve a rose once in a while. Everyone does.

Thanks Dad.