Long Stemmed White Roses

Years ago it was spring time and I was feeling lonely and down and out. I had missed my Sunday morning routine and I wanted to be around friendly people. Then I had this idea. I wanted to honor my friends who I ate lunch with on Sunday, mostly women between my mother and grandmothers' age were my "adopted" family. I wanted to do something nice for them. I had the good fortune of Eureka! I'll get them flowers! I entered the restaurant where they all sat laughing and smiling with my arms filled with not one but two dozen long stemmed white roses and began handing flowers out to them one by one. With a look of delight and distant memories my elders began sharing stories of Father returning home from a business trip and would bring home a long stemmed rose for her and her mother. Another woman proudly said she had one red rose and one yellow one dried at home and this would be a perfect trio.

Lunch ended and we hugged and parted. I was feeling so much better. Yet, I still had a dozen long stemmed white roses in my hands. Instead of going to my car on this sunny day, I walked to the local market and handed my friend at the register a gift. "I'm celebrating women's beauty. Have a flower", the words spontaneously formed in my mouth. Not bad for someone feeling ugly and depressed hours earlier. Then I was crossing the street and saw a lovely lady in her Sunday best. "Here, I'm celebrating women's beauty," the powerful words poured from my lips again. "Have a rose." She smiled and received it. This was so much fun.

Next I went to a friend's house who I knew was having a challenging time and dropped off some flowers at her doorstep with an up beat note about celebrating beautiful women. This was becoming an adventure, a mission really. I had more girl friends up town and I enthusiastically went to my favorite shop that had massage, meditation, and sold pretty things including musical instruments, stones and jewellery. They even offered therapeutic massage. To my surprise the shop was closed and there were no ladies in sight. I had interrupted a men's support group, oops! I recognized a couple of the men as friends in my town. Boldly and impishly I said "I'm celebrating women's beauty today have a rose." Each man graciously received their gift and leaned over and gave me a loving hug. Wow, I thought this flower power really works!