In Romeo and Juliet (a play by William Shakespeare), Juliet says “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Two young people from feuding families had fallen in love. This was Juliet’s way of saying that it did not matter that Romeo was a Montague, it only mattered that she loved him.
Roses have a long history of being the flower of love. A single red rose says “I love you.” Two red roses entwined together say “Marry Me.” Eleven roses say you are truly loved and thirteen roses tell you there is a secret admirer.
Most florists can tell you the meaning of the color of the rose. Florists often ask what the occasion is so they can pick the correct rose. White roses in a bridal bouquet mean “happy love.” If you are not getting married but want to give roses, you can choose yellow roses for friendship or pink roses for appreciation. Some people even send the artificially colored black roses for significant birthdays that end in 0.
These days there are more than ordinary colors to select. Multi-colored roses have meaning too. Yellow with red tips signify falling in love while lavender blends mean love at first sight. Orange is for enthusiasm, coral is for desire, and red and white roses are for unity.
My personal favorite rose is the peach colored rose. This one means appreciation. At the Center for Lifelong Learning we use the peach rose to invite everyone to our Sweet Melodies Valentine Lunch featuring the Southern Splendor Chorus. The lunch will be Thursday, February 13, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in the Ballroom of the Sandridge Student Union on the Athens State University Campus. The fee is $15/person. Register early, last year this event sold out very fast. Bring your sweetheart, best friend, or partner and enjoy the sweet melodies. You can even treat yourself to sweet melodies and lunch.
If you can’t make the lunch, why not bring your sweetheart to the Sweethearts Dance at the Center for Lifelong Learning on Friday, February 14, from 6:30-9:00 pm? The fee is $15/person and refreshments will be served. If you don’t know how to dance, our DJ, Dewain Cooper, will help you learn a few steps so that you can dance the night away. Swing music, old and new, will help you get your toes tapping.
If all this mushy stuff is not for you, you might want to consider two Academic Traveler trips that are coming up very soon. The first one is to commemorate the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The bus will leave at 8:00am Saturday, March 29, going to the National Park in Daviston, Alabama. Dr. Ron Fritze will describe the background of the Indian Wars on the trip to the battle site. While there, travelers will see demonstration of life in 1812 and there are activities specially designed for students age 5-12. Bring your family and experience the Indian Wars in a new way. The fee is $40/person.
The second trip is May 5-9. The bus will leave at 8:00 am going to New Orleans. You can see a Louisiana plantation, take a riverboat cruise, and see the sights. Transportation, double occupancy lodging, and eight meals are included in the fee, as well as the sight-seeing tours. A deposit of $75 is due when reserving space. The balance, $410, is due by March 1.
This and more is available at the Center for Lifelong Learning where learning is a lifestyle.
Visit us at 121 South Marion Street in Athens.
By: Wanda Campbell
