birthday flowers 2

I couldn't decide between these two macro shots.

They belong to the beautiful bouquet of freesia that my mother gave me to my birthday - like she did for decades.
Each year.
Freesia.
Mostly in blue.
This year I like the white ones even more. And most this blossom with its delicate drawing.
The tradition of freesia for my birthday must have started earlier than my memory.
When I was turning Sweet Little Seventeen I lived in Michigan - far away from my family. Of course I was missing them especially in February. You should see my eyes when my birthday letter arrived: 4 (four) pages full of cut and pasted pictures of freezia!

Ever since they accompanied by birthday - except the one when I was travelling through Asia in 1995. My mother flew into Thailand to take me to diner in a lovely beach restaurant and I excused the lack of freesia, because obviously there was no way in that tropical climate there.

From my girlfriend I got the spring-like Lily of the valley - much nicer than on the photo. The best neighbour in the world gave me the red flower (name?) and an invitation to a cozy Italian restaurant, yummy.

So nice being able to document all their thoughtful presents.
There were even more - books on mountaineering, an invitation for an opera...
The joy comes back into my mind and into feelings while posting it here.