Birthday Flowers Reminded Me

Some NSFW language, but it’s real.

A favorite story from the adventures of Dave and Judi is about flowers, specifically flowers on special occasions.

Basket of flowers, multi colored
Birthday flowers

We had been together nearly 20 years and I came home from work ready to deal with a problem. “Dave”, I said. “We have to talk. Every time a special occasion rolls around I watch the flower deliveries come hour after hour, always for everyone in the office but me. I want flowers, too!”

I want flowers, too!

“But you hate flowers” he said.

“Where in hell did you get that idea?” I asked.

“I saw you completely destroy a big bouquet of flowers one day at the radio station. You tore them out, dropped in the wastebasket, stomped them down until they all fit and then left.” he said.

“Let me tell you about that day.” I said. “It was the day my divorce was final. I had just come in to the station to drop orders and copy and go home and I saw those flowers on the desk. They were the size of a casket spray. Everyone in the place was head down, busy, so I later suspected that someone had read the card before me. it said “Hope you’re happy now, bitch”.

Dave was quiet. Probably thinking about 20 years of missed opportunity, LOL. He said all the right things and the next day when I got to my office in Wheaton there were dozens of red roses on my desk. Damn I miss that man.

August musing

I’m a Leo, born in August. Tomorrow’s the big day when I advance further into Senior Citizenship. But somehow Facebook reminded people today and the greetings started to flood in.

For a minute I thought I had really overslept and missed a day – that was a little unnerving. But a text about lunch plans tomorrow quickly verified that it was indeed still Tuesday. Whew.

I’m not upset about getting older. The alternative has taken too many people I love already. I just thought I would be wiser and have just a few more adventures under my belt. My vision is getting worse and my bones yell “Hey” throughout the day, but I am extremely lucky in many ways.

I do still have adventures booked and friends to roll along with me. Not many days from now we will be exploring new territory and praying our luggage keeps up with us. When we recover we have a list as long as our collective arms of more things to see and do.

The best thing about reviewing my life at this advanced age is that I am extremely happy and feel lucky every day. I live in a wonderful community and I have awesome family and friends here and scattered elsewhere across the country and I count that as my biggest blessing.

Matter of fact, I think the wisest thing I could do today is hit publish on this rambling post and head out to enjoy the August sun. I might mention how we already did August sun weather in May, but that feels like a “geezer check” moment to me.