Blue RosesMy Internet friends know me as Katy46, when I was 2 yrs old I lost my father and my mother placed me in the care of my maternal grandparent's. Mum had to work in another town and I only saw her one night a fortnight for the next 8 years.
My grandparent’s home was in a place called Bonang (Map)in Far East Gippsland, Victoria. It is a very small, remote community of farmers and timber workers. There was no running water.... except in the river. No electricity; we used a kero fridge, a Tilley lamp, candles, open wood fire and a wood combustion stove. We had the phone on, but didn't have a vehicle. Bonang was a tight knit community and everyone was there for each other through good times and bad. I felt unconditional love from my grand parents and was particularly close to Granny. It was like living in a cosy safe cocoon.
I walked to and from school each day, 5 miles each way: The road was narrow, unsealed and used primarily by log trucks. When I was 7, I came home from school out of breath. Granny was concerned that my lips were blue. She took me to see a heart specialist in the city. I had never been to a city before. As we walked along the footpath to the building where I was to see the doctor I saw so many people, there were people and cars everywhere and long rows of shops. I discovered it was a big world outside of Bonang.
I saw a mother pushing a little boy in a wheel chair, his legs… There was nothing below each knee! I'd never seen anyone like that before. I was looking at him and thinking about how difficult his life would be: I thought of the things he wouldn't be able to do and the effects it would have on those around him. I was startled when Granny nudged me and cautioned me not to stare.
I said, "But Granny, the boy has no legs!"
She replied, "He is a Blue Rose"
Then I said "But Granny, there’s no such thing as a blue rose"
Granny said she would explain it to my brother, sister and I when we got home.
Later that night, just after tea, we were sitting on the floor in front of the fire, we talked about the little boy I had seen and then Granny told us about blue roses.
Our property seemed large, a larger proportion of it was uncleared, often my brother, sister and I would go exploring. Granny asked us what would we do if we happened upon a rare flower, a blue rose, you know its the only one in the world, what would you do with it? Would you pick it? We came up with lots of ideas on how to keep the precious rose safe: No one would be able to pick it, there would have a rabbit proof fence around it, would be watered regularly, looked after and protected.
Granny then told us that one day when we grow up and leave Bonang we would meet people who are blue roses: she said some people will be crippled, blind, disabled, disadvantaged, terminally ill .... "These are blue roses, no two are the same and you are very fortunate if you are given the opportunity to be a caring friend to one"
