"In the middle"
by Bob Perks © 2001

"You stand somewhere in the middle. You aren't a beginner and I don't think the end is near," the old man said.
I was happy to hear that.

On my way over to deliver the gift for my future daughter-in-law's
shower, I decided to stop at a florist and pick up some flowers for her.
I headed to this little shop on Main Street near the site of the shower.
This was a last minute decision so I really just expected to grab an all
ready made basket or small arrangement.

The couple that owns this place are the cutest old couple I know. He is about 5'5" and she's closer to 5'. They are at least in their late 70's and move at a snail's pace. But I love them.
"Do you have any arrangements all ready made?" I asked the old gentleman.
"Yes, I do. Come here. I'll show you," he said as he stepped back
into the work room. I followed him until he opened the walk-in cooler.
"Go ahead. Take a look," he said.
Now I said it was a walk-in cooler. I should have said it was a
barely-able-to-stand-in cooler. It was packed with boxes and flowers.
"Are any of these available?" I asked.
"Yes, we have pom poms." he replied.
Did I mention that they are hard of hearing? It comes with age. I'm there already at 50.
"I mean can I have this one?"
"No! That's for the church," he said.
"How about this one?"
"Yes, any of the flowers in there... except that one... and all those and these."
"So basically these are all taken?"
"Yes."
Okay, so why did he take me into the cooler any way?
"Look, do you have roses?"
"Yes."
"How much are they?"
"They are right in front of you."
"I know. How much do they cost?"
"I only have red ones."
"I know. How much are they?"
"$2 each or I'll give you a dozen for $24"
That's $2 either way.
"Okay, give me a dozen."
"We only have red."
"Good, that's what I'm looking for anyway."
"Why didn't you say so when you came in?"
So you can see why I love coming here. And there's no charge for
entertainment.
He called for his wife to help him cut the thorns off and "clean them up" as he put it.
I sat near the front door in clear view of what they were doing. By the time they removed all
of the bruised pedals, extra leaves and of course the thorns, some of the buds were no
bigger than my thumb.

He called to his wife, "Go get me some greens in the box."
"What?"
"I need greens for the roses -- in the box."
"You need a box?"
"No, I need greens from the box out front."
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Out front!"
"For what?"
"I don't know, you told me to go out front."
"No, go in the box and get greens."
She walked to the cooler door and stood there.
"Yes, in the box... get me greens."
She went in the cooler and a few minutes later came out with a big
bunch of daisies.
"No, not those... greens...for the roses. You never listen to
anything I say."
She turned around and looked at me and whispered, "He never says
anything worth listening to."
A few minutes later she came out with white gladiolas.
"No! Never mind I'll get them myself. Close the door. You're
letting the cold air out!"
She went inside and closed the door. She must have been in there five
minutes when he walked over, grabbed the handle and said to me, "She drives
me crazy. That's why I'm crazy about her."
As soon as the door opened I saw this little hand snap out, with
greens in it.
"Finally!" he said.
It took another fifteen minutes to wrap it all up. He walked to the register and said,
"I'll tell you what. I know I told you $2.50 each, but I'll only charge you $2."
"Oh, thanks. I appreciate it," I said. You need to learn to follow along. It's so much easier.
"It's for my future daughter-in-law. My son is getting married on Oct 6th."
"A beginner?"
"Yes, sir. He's 23 years old and he's marrying his best friend he
tells me."
"I think I was born married," the old man said with a smile. "We have been so blessed.
Both of us still can handle this business and basically we're healthy. But this is the other end of life."
Then he said the words I needed to hear.
"You stand somewhere in the middle. You aren't a beginner and I don't think the end is near."
Finally someone has helped me discover where I am on this road. I'm half way between falling in love and falling over dead.
It's good to be in the middle of life.
"I said it's good to... Oh, you heard me!"

"I Believe in you!"
Bob Perks
© 2001
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