Digby is only mildly surprised to learn from Owen that Jeb’s new girl is named Rose. He can’t help thinking how Celeste would love the intrigue and the spectacle. But Celeste is a daydream, while flesh-and-blood women in clouds of perfume flash past him, calling him to adventure with their eyes. An hour later, when Digby and Honorine take their leave, the dance is going strong. Digby motors at an easy pace, the only pace Esmeralda is capable of with a sidecar passenger, which is only slightly faster than a bicycle. The sea breeze is nourishing, cleansing. Digby slips his goggles up over his forehead and Honorine’s hair flies about behind her as she grins.

“It’s all roses for Jeb,” Digby shouts over his shoulder, the image of the white swirling gown covered with red roses still vivid.

 He wants to talk about Celeste, but of course he’s never mentioned her, or the excursion, never uttered her name to another. Honorine laughs, shouting back, “Roses would be annoying weeds if the blooms never withered and died. Beauty resides in the knowledge that it doesn’t last.” Well, Jeb surely knows that, Digby thinks. But does Rose? And if beauty is in the ephemeral, what about the beautiful things you can’t have? Perhaps that kind of beauty does last forever.

From “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese

It is a beautiful novel about a saga that begins in Glasgow and ends in India seven decades later. Abraham Verghese is a masterful writer who can visualize everything he describes as it were before him. 

I selected this snippet because of his insightful comments, “Roses would be annoying weeds if the blooms never withered and died. Beauty resides in the knowledge that it doesn’t last.” Well, Jeb surely knows that, Digby thinks. But does Rose? And if beauty is in the ephemeral, what about the beautiful things you can’t have? Perhaps that kind of beauty does last forever.

Happy Holidays to my readers

Louis Villalba