Daffodil Principle
佚名 / Anonymous
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say， “Mother， you must come see the daffodils before they are over.” I wanted to go， but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. “I will come next Tuesday，” I promised， a little reluctantly， on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still， I had promised， and so drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn’s house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren I said， “Forget the daffodils， Carolyn！ The road is invisible in the clouds and fog， and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch！”
My daughter smiled calmly， “We drive in this all the time， Mother.” “Well， you won’t get me back on the road until it clears—and then I’m heading for home！” I assured her， “I was hoping you’d take me over to the garage to pick up my car.”
“How far will we have to drive？” “Just a few blocks，” Carolyn said， “I’ll drive. I’m used to this.”
After several minutes I had to ask， “Where are we going？ This isn’t the way to the garage！” “We’re going to my garage the long way，” Carolyn smiled， “by way of the daffodils.” “Carolyn，” I said sternly， “please turn around.” “It’s all right， Mother. I promise you will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.” After about twenty minutes we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church.
On the far side of the church I saw a hand-lettered sign “Daffodil Garden”. We got out of the car and each took a child’s hand， and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then we turned a corner of the path， and I looked up and gasped.
Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic， swirling patterns， great ribbons and swaths of deep orange， white， lemon yellow， salmon pink， saffron， and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. Five acres of flowers！