Everything’s Coming Up Roses

It’s 2024.03.01 on the lunar calendar today.

When Ethel Merman sang “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” do you think she considered the possibility that said roses might be withered?

Here’s my song “In Memories and Poses” about a future of roses, dried petals, and thorns. I sing and play gayageum and Ross plays an extra small and squirrelly piano in this duo piece. I might have believed the lyrics when I wrote them but they’ve since been overwritten by new heartbreak and I’m over it.

I seem to be constantly getting over things lately: cauliflower pizza after months of being a fan, the second season of “Physical: 100” after the team challenges ended, and even sweet potatoes after a lifetime as a 고구마벌레 (goguma bug), as my grandma used to call me. Eggs, cheddar, Hippeas … the list goes on.

Anyway, after my sister heard the song, she shared the following C.S. Lewis quote.

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

― C.S. Lewis

It was a good thing that I left behind my brief Pop Tarts phase freshman year. I used to get into these patterns of eating a very limited number of things and my now-dietician friend said that’s called a food jag. I would consult her with questions like “Am I going to be okay now that I’ve just eaten a dozen bananas?” and her unheeded advice was always to eat everything in moderation.

I should probably consult a different kind of healthcare professional on my current condition of a runny nose and dry eyes. My mom has been telling me to take allergy medication but I don’t want to, so I will just avoid pollen and fresh flowers as much as I can. Just dried roses for me, thanks. They’re beautiful when pressed.