A flower’s appeal is in its contradictions – so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect. ~Adabella Radici
Originally posted February 3, 2010… after having a really “bad” day. I was still reeling from the loss of my friend and business partner, Jamie, in March of 2009. The experience I had in a Target store really changed my outlook on life…
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Question… Have you ever saved a flower? I mean saved it because it meant so much to you? The flower probably didn’t mean as much as the moment, but that flower was your connection to the experience. I saved some petals from my wedding bouquet and pressed them. Big deal- they are now faded and tattered, but I can’t bring myself to throw them away. They are my tangible connection to “that big day”. Please read on.
I was in the checkout line at Target yesterday and I noticed the lady behind me was purchasing a really beautiful lamp. It looked like a large glass jar with a silver lid but had a lamp shade on top. I’m sure that if I had spotted it first I would have grabbed it. I turned to her and commented on how wonderful it was. She smiled back and then her eyes welled up with tears. She moved towards me and softly said “I told myself not to cry today”. She then told me she had been searching and searching for a vase or a jar to place some dried flower stems into and thought the “jar” lamp was perfect. She went on to explain that her daughter had passed away just 3 months ago while giving birth to her second grandchild. The flowers were from the funeral. Wow. Not what I expected to hear. I didn’t really know how to respond. I paid for my purchase, turned back towards her, told her how sorry I was for her loss and touched her lightly on the shoulder. She continued to cry, but said thank you. What else could I do?
Tears in my eyes, I walked out of the store and tried my best to take a positive message away from the experience. I believe that certain encounters in life happen to you for a reason. I think that particular encounter served as a huge reminder… life is precious and fleeting. Ok- that is obvious. I know. It also serves as a reminder to me how powerful flowers are. Flowers add beauty to every part of life… happy times and sad. This woman, although grieving, had found comfort and a connection to her daughter through a few simple stems of dried flowers. If I could go back I wouldn’t have left her… I would have met her.
Flowers are powerful. Flowers may not save lives, but they can touch them. I’m thankful for all the flower people in the world… you help people in more ways than you may ever really know.
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Post script… It may sound unbelievable, but I was contacted by the same lady I met in line. I still reflect on that random encounter we had at Target and the indelible mark it left on me. Life is a powerful experience. Soak it in and be grateful for each gift it brings.
11:23 am Comment by marj wise on April 29, 2010
I am that mother you met at Target. Now 6 months out but thankful to have been blessed with an exceptionally wonderful daughter for 30 years. Her incredible husband and the precious little boys, Clark 2 yrs. and baby Quinn, now 6 months old, are all doing well. Thanks to Blair, one of Katie’s childhood and motherhood friends for recognizing and forwarding this blog to me. I still “loose it” at times but know God’s plan for our lives is perfect. We’ll be together again someday. Thanks for sharing!
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