Lilacs are my favorite flower. Last week when I was home, we drove past a blooming bush in someone's yard and I swooned to my dad in the driver's seat, "Oooooooo. Lilacs!" I haven't seen many this season and since they only bloom for a few, short weeks out of the year, every one is precious to me. Later that evening, I heard my dad come in the back door. I peeked my head around the corner to see him coming upstairs with something in his hand. I immediately knew I wasn't supposed to see it yet. When he came into the living room, he handed me a freshly clipped bouquet of fragrant lilacs from a near by bush. "These are for you." He said. I pretended to be surprised, but I didn't have to pretend that I felt as special and precious to my dad, as a beautiful, rare flower.