Flowers & A New Beginning

Flowers

A handsome gentleman walks into a supermarket and proceeds to the floral section. He notices a lovely young lady creating an arrangement of flowers. He approaches her and says, “Hello, that's a beautiful arrangement you are putting together.” She smiles at the gentleman and replies, “Thank you, they are for my flower vase at home to spruce things up a bit.”

The gentleman picks through flower stems and awkwardly tries to arrange a bouquet. Frustrated, he soon gives up. He smiles at the young lady, “Miss, I wonder if you could help me,” He asks. “With what,” she replied. The gentleman explained, “You see, I just met someone I am attracted to. I wanted to approach her with a small bouquet, tell her I would like to get to know her and invite her on a date to share a cup of coffee with me.” He continued, “However, I’m not very good at arranging flowers and you seem to know what you are doing.”

The young lady placed her free hand over her heart, “That is sweet. I would be happy to help you.” She proceeds to pick out several stems, and wraps, and bow ties them at the base to make a beautiful floral presentation. She hands the bouquet to him and sighs, “She will love them. Maybe one day a handsome gentleman will ask me out on a date with flowers.” The gentleman smiled and replied,” Maybe.”

They both proceed to the cashier’s desk together with their arrangement in hand. The gentleman checks out first. As he completes his purchase, The young lady standing directly behind him in line proclaims to the gentleman, “Good luck. I hope she likes the flowers and says yes to the date.” The gentleman turns to face the young lady, smiles, and replies, “Thank you. I hope she says yes too. Because these are for you.”

By the way, she said YES!

A New Beginning

A man gazes around his beloved island, which has been his home for many years. The Island has provided him with warmth, shelter, beauty, and peace. He admires green foliage and the splash of colors from all the plant life inhabiting his island. He takes note of the wildlife, the distant songs of its feathered friends, and the rustling of the leaves from the other creatures moving about that also call the island home.

He meditates in the sun to bask in the privilege of the paradise he has enjoyed for so long, reminding himself of his good fortune to have discovered such a beautiful existence. Complete joy and contentful happiness that so many dream of, yet so few will find.

He settles into his hut for the night, anticipating the next day’s joy of life. In his sleep, he hears grumblings in the distance. Dismissing the noises, he eventually wakes up at the rise of daylight.

He emerges from his hut to the sight of pure devastation. The sky was dark and cold. The landscape was overwhelmed with a blanket of ash. He concludes that the volcano on the other side of the island must have erupted, the grumblings he heard. All the beauty of the island was wiped away overnight. All that he remembered was now gone in an instant.

He spent several days in tears, remembering what once was and now has become. Wondering what to do, now that his paradise is lost. Then, while wandering in the ash, he looked down and saw a small blotch of color on the ground, surrounded by the dark. As he peered closer, he noticed that it was a small little flower, protruding up above the sea of grey.

Observing its bright green stem with two bright green leaves attached, capped by white petals with a touch of bright red. He realized that his beloved island was trying to move forward and heal from its despair. He was where he belonged, he would heal with the island.