Roses are Red

My love of flowers began when I was just a wee young lass, picking dandelions and braiding them into halos, taking the lilacs and roses from the yard and putting them in mason jars to set on the kitchen counter.

But the real love affair didn't begin to blossom (pun intended hehe) until three years back when I walked out onto my balcony one early summer evening and said to myself, this roof could use some fixing up.

So I drove my recently driver's licensed self to the nursery, and with quite a limited knowledge in the floral world I simply picked out a couple cases of stuff that looked the prettiest and easiest to manage. It was a wild success.

My dreary balcony was transformed into a secret roof garden, that I loved most dearly. Many nights I spent out on my roof, admiring the pansies and geraniums. Sitting in my lawn chair reading books and eating otter pops.

So I continued that tradition for the next two summers, and my love affair of flowers soon turned into a secret ambition to be a florist.

I spoke of it to no one.

Then college came and half way through my first semester I decided my elementary education major was not really the path I wanted to take. I can barely remember what I learned throughout my public schooling days, let alone try to teach it to a bunch of little kids. They'd leave elementary school not even knowing how to read if I was in charge. I mean seriously.

So I said to myself, dang it Hannah, you make that old secret ambition of yours a reality! It's time to follow your dreams. Chase the stars. Reach for something better.

Soft, soft tears sprang from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks as I thought of my future ambitions and the steps I would take to make them come true.

I walked into the counseling office of the Ag and Life Sciences department, I slammed my books on the desk, looked that secretary in the eye and said to her:

"I'd like to change my major!!"

Taken aback by my ferocity she quickly punched a few things into her computer and told me to wait just a moment.

And just like that I changed my major to Horticulture, with an emphasis in floral design. I was beginning to realize my dreams of being a florist. It was finally coming true.

The semester's end crept up on me, I moved to the midwest, and found a job (conveniently?) at a flower shop. Don't ask me how it happened because I have no idea. Seriously no where else called me back except for the flower shop. It was weird.

Anyway, the ladies there taught me to design, wash buckets, process flowers, and various other flower shop responsibilites. It was a bit surreal that I was there, working at a flower shop, learning the tricks of the trade. After three months my desires to be a florist were only solidfied and strengthened. I really feel like I am on the right track. Yes indeed.

So someday, my friends, I will be a the lady who arranges those beautiful bouquets you send to your friends on their birthdays or to your mama on mother's day. That's me. Hannah Abbott the Florist.

Perhaps I shall even have a flower shop of my very own.

And that is the story of my flower love affair.