Secret Smile

I was in line at the grocery store today and the man in front of me had only one item: flowers. As he waited for his turn, he stood there with perfect posture and a very stoic, manly expression on his face. I couldn't help but smile as I watched him and was already making up stories in my head about who he'd be giving them to.

As he approached the cashier, a smile started to escape and I watched him pierce his lips to try and hide it. The cashier scanned the flowers and wasn't as successful at hiding her smile. Neither of them said a word, but as she glanced up and made eye contact with him, he couldn't hold it in any longer. He smiled from ear to ear and quickly looked down to grab his wallet.

She placed the vase on the ledge and avoided eye contact as he started to use the credit card machine. As he was punching in numbers, she reached over to take the price tag off the vase and they caught each others eyes again - this time sharing a smile as he said, "You're so kind."

Seeing people buy flowers, specifically men, warms my heart every time. It's exciting to know there is someone out there who will be on the receiving end and two people will share a smile, even if just for a moment.

The Fourth is Sexual Harassment

I was minding my own business in the Staples parking lot when I heard someone from across the lot say, "Hi. I like your smile."  For the record, I wasn't smiling.

When I looked up, there was little old man headed my way.

"I just lost 20 pounds. What do you think?"

I smiled and said, "Congratulations! How'd you do it?"

"Well, I'm on the seafood diet.  If I see food, I don't eat it."

Cute.

We proceeded to have a 5 minute conversation that consisted of him shamelessly hitting on me.  Which is easy to take when someone is 40 years your senior.

I'll spare you all the details, but two of my favorite moments were him asking me for my phone number, to which I declined.  Twice.  After his second attempt he said, "Well now that you're getting to know me a little better, you might give me your number before I leave.  My parole officer says it's okay to ask three times for something.  After that, it's sexual harassment.  So I've got one more shot."

After turning him down a third time and deciding to part ways, he reached in his shirt pocket and handed me a carnation. My heart melted a little and I took it but offered to give it back in case he wanted to give it to someone who would give him their phone number in return.

He smiled as he started to walk away and said, "Oh no, baby. I got a dozen of those in my car."

Solid.

Guessing Game

When flowers arrive at my door, I usually have three thoughts:

1. Oh my goodness...do I have a secret admirer? I totally do. And it's gonna be some perfect stranger.

2. Then I realize: highly unlikely. They're probably from my mom. Which is amazing in itself. How is my mom so great?!

3. They are also quite possibly from my best friend in FL because she knows my favorite flower, and THESE are THEM.

However, today I opened the card expecting to see my mom's name...and no.

It says, "Dear Raaaaaaabecca" which means it's my dear, dear, dear, dear friend who is currently traveling the world on a sailboat and managed to send me flowers.

Way better than from a silly boy.

An Ode

I get it.
It's just chicken.
From some seemingly non-special Fast Food joint.

But it's not.
It's delicious....for one.

But the experience only gets better from there.
Free wireless.
Amazingly friendly staff.
ICE DREAM.
And plenty of sauces to choose from.

Chick Fil A.
You know this,...but I love you.

And today, not only did you have fresh flowers on every table (I mean come on, what Fast Food place offers this?!), but they were SUNFLOWERS.

Top shelf my friend, top shelf.

Bouquet

Tonight, during a jog through the neighborhood, I passed a sweet young man in his 60's walking home around 9:30pm with his briefcase and an item that makes me smile.

Flowers.
Not fancy ones. Not ones he specially picked out. Just flowers.

Who knows if they were an apology, a celebration or just because.

My heart says..."just because".

But I suppose it always will.