Our driver, Mike usually gets all the fun – but he was off this week so I got to go on the road and deliver flowers in the neighbourhood. My role in the company usually involves helping flower senders decide how to express themselves. I don’t often get to see the end result!
Delivering in the rain was not so much fun, and the wind on Friday made me hold on tight. Catching people at home can be an issue, but usually a neighbour will take in the parcel.
Everyone, yes everyone, is delighted to receive flowers. My favourite delivery this week was to a lady on her 60th birthday. She was doing her Saturday housework when I rang the doorbell. When she answered the door and I asked if she was the person I was looking for, she actually took a step backwards, hand on her heart, a surprised and delighted smile on her face, and asked “For me?”
An elderly lady with a lovely Scottish accent told me that she had been receiving flowers from our shop since we opened (I didn’t tell her that that was actually in 1898!). Her friend had sent her flowers for Christmas and her birthday for years, and the daughter took over when she passed away.
Even when people are grieving, they are pleased to have a floral gift sent to their home. For some reason, it seems the men of the family are outside on the porch whenever I deliver, and they readily offer to carry the parcel and see that it gets inside safely.
Wedding deliveries can be interesting. One man (father of the bride?) was clearly overwhelmed with his responsibilities and counted every corsage and matched it to his list. Sometimes the bridal party are looking elegant from the shoulders up – makeup and hair beautiful – while wearing their comfy clothes. It’s a rare house that doesn’t have an atmosphere of edgy excitement.
The improvement that helps the most with delivering is the cell phone. I can phone the recipient if they don’t answer the door. Today a lady was out shopping when I stopped by her house. She sent me around to the back and told me where to leave the flowers. As I hung up, I just caught her words, “Oh, who are they from?” Guess she had to wait until she got home and read the card:)
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