Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.

Lace Hydrangeas by Laura Tovar Dietrick
A story about many things. The subject of PTSD crops up on the radio and in the media often. I remember the film “The Best Years of Our Lives” depicting this in a very sensitive and realistic way. The subject is hard to discuss for serving military members. A career kiss of death.

There are a few students from Fort Leavenworth who have tip-toed around the subject recently in the Kansas City Star’s blog. The discussion deserves to be in the hands of physicians and psychologists, I believe.

In Virginia Woolf’s story, Septimus Smith lives in guilt, mourning the loss of his Army mate, Evans. This story begins with flowers and the promise of a party, a reunion, a walk through London, and the memory of a kiss. In the midst of this swirl of flowers and party preparations, there’s a great deal of sadness and regret but I love the first line and wonder what flowers Mrs. Dalloway decided to buy.