April 21, 2006
You don't bring me flowers anymore
Someone I've never met in person before showed up at my office this afternoon and brought me flowers.
I was touched, and also a little flustered and embarassed. I had just been crying, so I looked pretty awful, and I know I turned red and stuttered and sputtered a bit. I felt foolish. But also a little special, that someone would trek all the way on foot to North Cambridge just to give me a nice surprise.
And it made me think about other people who have been kind to me. The friend who rode over on his motorcycle the other afternoon to bring me a mix CD and a flask of whiskey. The other friend who had me over for dinner last night and lent a sympathetic ear for a bit. I welcomed the kindnesses and distractions. And I realized that these are all fairly new friends--they barely know me, really.
Which made me wonder about the friends I've known for years, who haven't paid me much mind lately. Maybe that's ungenerous, and maybe that has nothing to do with me, but... I don't know. It makes me wonder. Wonder whether it's them, or me (am I really that high-maintenance? Maybe), or whether it's neither. I don't know.
Regardless, they're really pretty flowers.
Dutch tulips, you are one special girl. Now, as a floral designer, and as a friend who doesn't want you to cry any more than you already are, I am going to give you tips on how to make your tulips last, because I know how sad dead flowers are. They won't last more than 4 or 5 days anyway, but if you change the water every day (they like ICE COLD water) and give the bottoms a fresh cut on the diagonal before you plop them back in, and also husk away any leaves that are touching the water...they should continue to bring you a few more days of be happy don't cry-ness. :)
Posted by: Emily on April 22, 2006 6:48 AM