The Love Post: Part Two
Extra Short & Extra Sweet | No. 019
My dad started dating my mom in 1984. That same year, when he met her mom for the first time, he gifted her with a tiny 2-inch-tall Christmas Cactus.
My mom’s mom, my Grandma Ardeth, was a hell of a gardener. She nurtured that 2-inch grocery store cactus until it outgrew its pot. Over the years, it grew until that one plant multiplied so much that it filled multiple pots around her house.
I married my own husband in 2013. Grandma knew my husband loved gardening. When we set off to move into our first house together, she gave him one of the cactus pots, a plant that was an offshoot of the original cactus from 1984.
Now it’s 2025, 41 years later. My Grandma left us 11 years ago. But, the Christmas cactus lives on and is blooming this month in all its glory, hanging in our kitchen window.
It reminds me of the forces of love, commitment, beauty, and trusting the process. I see the Christmas cactus and tell myself not to despise small beginnings. You never know how powerful and joyful those seeds of a small beginning can grow to be.
I always love hearing from real people reading these real posts (bots, AI, and trolls, stay away!). If you’re so inclined, comment, click a heart, send me an email or DM, or share this publication with another real human.
If you’re feeling brave, comment with one of your own small beginnings. I’d love to hear about it.
This was the SWEETEST short post. I got a Christmas cactus this year and I could not keep it alive. I’m v inspired by your family’s green thumb and I also love this story 💘
I love this story💜 It's a beautiful metaphor for the nuturing and patience required to keep a love story growing, a living reminder of your much loved grandma and I can totally see a piece of this cactus in Jordyn, Jaxsin, and Gracie Belle's houses someday reminding them of their beautiful and loving mama😘