Specific References

Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin was a musician, songwriter, and actor who lived from 1936 to 1973. He performed jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, and country music. In the 1960s, he was involved in Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, and was present at the time of Kennedy's assassination in June 1968. That same year, Darin discovered the woman who had raised him, whom he believed to be his mother, was actually his grandmother, and that the woman he thought was his sister was actually his mother. These two events deeply affected Darin and he secluded himself for a long while.

He made a successful comeback (in television) in the early 70s, but his health was beginning to fail him as a result of rheumatic fever in childhood. The knowledge that this would affect his health is what spurred him to do so much at such a young age. He died at 37 following an open heart surgery.

Roses

Roses most often symbolize love and passion, and were associated with Aphrodite and Venus by the ancient Greeks and Romans. They also represent confidentiality: the Latin expression "sub rosa", "under the rose", means something told in secret, and in ancient Rome, a wild rose was placed on the door to a room where confidential matters were being discussed.

Additionally, each color of rose has a different meaning. Red, or "the lover's rose", signifies enduring passion; white, humility and innocence; yellow, expressing friendship and joy; pink, gratitude, appreciation and admiration; orange, enthusiasm and desire; white lilac and purple roses represent enchantment and love at first sight.