Evening Glory

Wal-mart sells a house-brand of clothing labeled ‘Faded Glory’. Whoever came up with this name had a sense of humor. The phrase, ‘Faded Glory’, reminds me of a lady who is past her prime. Her glory days are a distant memory. I think we all reach this stage eventually. Yet, some of us accept aging more gracefully than others.

I know a Faded Glory who continually seeks validation from others. Her need for attention and approval is insatiable. She frequently invalidates others in her attempt to feel better about herself.

I also know an Evening Glory. Her pale blooms are subtle. She opens up in the dark, sharing her nectar freely, when most other flowers are unavailable.

I want to be like this Evening Glory. I want to accept aging gracefully, to find my niche, to be available to those in need. I want to focus on validating others, providing sustenance, allowing others to grow.

I found the following description of the evening primrose that grows in Israel:
“The evening primrose Oenothera drummondii is a joy to see. It gives even more delight when it blooms throughout the night. It’s Hebrew name, ner halayla, means candle of the night. It is a survivor, stubbornly growing in places no other flowers can. It tolerates the saltiness of the sea-shore, the aridness of the sand, and the spray of the waves. Look closely at the flower to see an unusual feature – the cross shaped stigma. The plant is fertilised by a moth, not surprising as its flowers open at night – and when I say open at night I mean a tightly closed bud will open within about 30 seconds! One plant can have between 20 and 30 flowers open over-night and they will simply fade away by noon next day, to be replaced the next night by as many more.”