“No, I Don’t Like Flowers†or “She’s Lyingâ€
I’ve loved flowers ever since I was old enough to remember them. I often picked wildflowers for my mother. She always acted like she loved them, even though some of them were really just weeds.
In the field behind my house every spring there would appear a lavender blanket of violets that livened up the hill. Horses grazed in that field all year long and I often think they enjoyed the pasture during that time more than any. I once even ate a fresh violet just to see what the horses liked so much about them. It didn’t taste very good to me, but, then I wasn’t a horse.
My favorite flower was the purple iris. The irises were all over our yard. I asked my mother if I could replant some of them in the back at the chicken house. She gave me permission and I started the job of making a circle of flowers around that area. After days of summer work, the task was completed.
I was sure that, in the spring, the chickens would be as happy about this as I was. Life would be better there because of the flowers.
I anxiously awaited the blooms. They were lavender flowers with the dark, royal purple centers. They grew tall and the blooms began to take shape. The chickens would visit them and pick at the soil at their bases. I would run those chickens away from the irises if they started pecking on the blossoms.
That area, some 40 years later, still has irises blooming every spring. I remember the chicken house fondly as the pretend home within the complete circle of purple flowers. It was often a place of retreat and peace for me while I was growing up.
Yes, flowers fill an important part of our lives. They bring back memories. They create memories, and their fragrance often makes us stop and enjoy the simple things in life.
I promised myself long ago that, if I was not a recipient of flowers from someone who loved and cared about me, I would buy or pick flowers for myself.
If you visit my home today you will most likely see fresh flowers on my table.
So why, would you ask, does any woman say she doesn’t like flowers?
I’m not sure about that, but I can tell you that I think she may be lying.
I have a colleague who was getting ready to celebrate a 25th anniversary with his wife. They were in a bit of a marriage rut. He confided in me that he wanted to do something special for her but just couldn’t come up with anything.
She didn’t like chocolates. That was the first sign she was lying. No woman in her right mind doesn’t savor a fine chocolate from time to time.
“She doesn’t even like flowers.†He said. “What else is there?â€
“You know,†I said. “She is lying to you. All women like flowers. Why don’t you get the biggest arrangement of fresh flowers they can make and have them delivered? I’ll guarantee you she will LOVE them.â€
So that is what my friend did.
An hour or so later, he called me in a panic.
“Joellen,†he said. “She called me in tears.â€
“Why?†I asked “Is something wrong?â€
“No,†he continued “She was so overwhelmed when they came that she called all her friends and told them how beautiful the flowers were and then called me to tell me how overwhelmed she was by them.â€
“What should I do?†He said.
“Why are you even still at the office?†I questioned him. “Get your behind out of that chair and go home to be with her. Enjoy the moment.â€
Men. Sometimes even the best of them need a little nudge now and then.
So, men, if your woman tells you she doesn’t like flowers, she is lying…LYING. If she happens to have allergies, then just tell the florist to select some that don’t have any aroma.
My wish for you women today, is that you are the recipient of flowers throughout you life. My wish for you men is that you realize just how amazing a few flowers can be in helping revive or confirm you are in love with your woman. I can GUARANTEE it will make the receivers day, and who knows, it even may make your day, too!
~Joellen