Post by sunshine on Feb 12, 2006 23:55:42 GMT 10
DOESN'T TAKE A LOT
by Bob Perks
It shouldn't have bothered me, but it did.
I usually refer to Valentine's Day as "amateur day." Simply because the stuff that most people do on that day, I do year round.
But yesterday I ran into a professional.
I had received a wonderful note regarding my story, Broken Heart, from my good friend Bill Hyatt.
He wrote, "Bob, I know this was a mother and son but it reminded me so much of an elderly couple at the nursing home where my wife is. They are in their nineties and have been married 65 years. When he comes wheeling into the dining room or day room with her already
there, her face lights up like the sun, moon and all the stars were inside her. His also lights up at her presence. I think it is absolutely wonderful that these two elderly lovers are still so much in love. Bill"
As I headed into my day, I thought about creating a love story similar to that elderly couple. Caught up in the details of having a special dinner last night for my wife, I forgot about it.
That is, until I stopped by the local florist to buy a small bunch of flowers.
Standing at the counter I had asked the clerk for a bunch of mixed flowers, about $10 worth. It's a standard order there at least once a month. Marianne loves Daisies. But this is Valentine's Day. $10 won't buy you much even if you are one of the regulars.
While I was waiting a young man about twentyish, walked in. Another clerk busily passing through said "Can I help you?" He asked
"How much are roses per dozen." She replied, "$75."
I choked.
He smiled.
The clerk excused herself.
I turned to him and said, "Give her the money instead."
The clerk returned and he quickly responded, "I'll take those in
the show case." A huge vase filled with a dozen long stem flowers.
$110.
The woman asked if she could go home with him. I was still in shock.
At that point my clerk walked out with this tiny bunch of
flowers -- for $10.
"Is this okay?"
I whispered, "Yes."
"Is this a Valentine's gift?" she asked.
A thousand answers rushed through my head: "No, they're for a
grave." "Oh, yes they're for my little daughter." But I quietly
replied "yes."
The young man and I were left there alone. It was awkwardly quiet.
Finally I said, "Boy, she's going to love you!"
"I had to keep up with last year," he replied.
"What did you do last year?"
"I bought her three dozen roses. This guy she was dating was
going to ask her to marry him. He was a creep. He was no good for
her. So I stole her away before he could ask her."
He was a professional. I was in awe.
As I stood there thinking about all this I realized that he was
the beginning, I was in the middle and that lovely couple Bill told
me about was at the end of love.
It doesn't take a lot to be in love.
It lies somewhere between $110, $10, and lighting up with a
smile when they come in the room.
by Bob Perks
It shouldn't have bothered me, but it did.
I usually refer to Valentine's Day as "amateur day." Simply because the stuff that most people do on that day, I do year round.
But yesterday I ran into a professional.
I had received a wonderful note regarding my story, Broken Heart, from my good friend Bill Hyatt.
He wrote, "Bob, I know this was a mother and son but it reminded me so much of an elderly couple at the nursing home where my wife is. They are in their nineties and have been married 65 years. When he comes wheeling into the dining room or day room with her already
there, her face lights up like the sun, moon and all the stars were inside her. His also lights up at her presence. I think it is absolutely wonderful that these two elderly lovers are still so much in love. Bill"
As I headed into my day, I thought about creating a love story similar to that elderly couple. Caught up in the details of having a special dinner last night for my wife, I forgot about it.
That is, until I stopped by the local florist to buy a small bunch of flowers.
Standing at the counter I had asked the clerk for a bunch of mixed flowers, about $10 worth. It's a standard order there at least once a month. Marianne loves Daisies. But this is Valentine's Day. $10 won't buy you much even if you are one of the regulars.
While I was waiting a young man about twentyish, walked in. Another clerk busily passing through said "Can I help you?" He asked
"How much are roses per dozen." She replied, "$75."
I choked.
He smiled.
The clerk excused herself.
I turned to him and said, "Give her the money instead."
The clerk returned and he quickly responded, "I'll take those in
the show case." A huge vase filled with a dozen long stem flowers.
$110.
The woman asked if she could go home with him. I was still in shock.
At that point my clerk walked out with this tiny bunch of
flowers -- for $10.
"Is this okay?"
I whispered, "Yes."
"Is this a Valentine's gift?" she asked.
A thousand answers rushed through my head: "No, they're for a
grave." "Oh, yes they're for my little daughter." But I quietly
replied "yes."
The young man and I were left there alone. It was awkwardly quiet.
Finally I said, "Boy, she's going to love you!"
"I had to keep up with last year," he replied.
"What did you do last year?"
"I bought her three dozen roses. This guy she was dating was
going to ask her to marry him. He was a creep. He was no good for
her. So I stole her away before he could ask her."
He was a professional. I was in awe.
As I stood there thinking about all this I realized that he was
the beginning, I was in the middle and that lovely couple Bill told
me about was at the end of love.
It doesn't take a lot to be in love.
It lies somewhere between $110, $10, and lighting up with a
smile when they come in the room.
