A dear friend of mine has just began dating a young man recently. She is going through all of the emotions of a new love interest. Every time they talk she becomes gitty, flirtatious, and basically weak in the knees. Cupid has hit her hard, and I love it.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, they had to become separated for the first time during their courtship. She seeing her family in Missouri and he vacationing at his parents cabin in Colorado. Their hearts ached for one another each day that they were apart. Then she received a call from him telling her that he had purchased a present for her that he just know she would enjoy. This helped ease the separation issues that she was feeling, as this is the first gift he has ever bought for her.
Once they were finally able to reunite, he presented her with a beautifully wrapped package, her heart was pounding the whole time. She genitally unwrapped her first present from her knight to find hidden inside was a pine scented candle. She was pleased with the thought that he had considered buying her a gift however, my dear friend can not stand the smell of pine. But did not have the heart to tell her new love interest any different. This brings me to my story at hand........
My family has always been big givers of flowers for every occasion. If someone has a baby send flowers, when a friend is ill bring them a bouquet, when someone becomes rodeo queen give her a corsages, when there is a birthday send an arrangement: Basically if there is any excuse to send flowers we would do it. I guess the thought of seeing that person on the receiving end smiling, it was always worth it.
So when HH and I first began dating, I was very set in my ways for purchasing floral arrangements. It was around this time afew of years ago that we were invited to a couples party in Kansas City. Oh, I was so thrilled. I was eager to impress all of HH's friends so I did what I have always done. I went to the floral department and picked out a gorgeous winter themed arrangement. It was made of pungent pine needles, decadent holly springs, and scattered motive candles, it was heavenly! I proudly strutted out of store with my head held high knowing that I was going to make an incredible first impression with HH's friends.
I was going to travel with HH and his brother to our final destination that was an hour away. I loaded up of my belongings and my beloved purchase in HH's vehicle. And we were west bounded down. The stout scent of pine quickly filled the inside of the truck. Ahh, blissful I thought. It was about 15 minutes into our drive when I began to notice that there was some sniffling and sneezing beginning to happen quite frequently with the two brothers. Still in my boastfully content "happy place", I assumed that the brothers had caught a mild case of the sniffles.
By the time we reached the couples party, I hustled into the home and presented our host and hostess with my treasured pine scented arrangement. Oh, I was so proud of myself. Then I turned around to find HH and Uncle B; what I thought was a mild cold, turned into a full fledge allergy break out! Their eyes were swollen, nose's were running and the sneezing attacks became very frequent. It was then apparent that the two FB's were allergic to pine. My once flawless plan of compassion had failed miserably.
You would have thought that I would have learned my lesson about the scent of pine after that episode. But oh no, I just had to try one last time. It was going to be the first time meeting HH's whole family during the Christmas season just a few weeks following the couples party. I promptly dialed my favorite floral bouquet and ordered 2 sets of Christmas arrangements for HH's grandparents to be delivered. Once again, I thought my work was done, I just know I will make a great first impression.
I made an impression alright, it was going to be a Christmas that they would never forget. Both sets of grandparents had their pine scented center piece on the table when HH and I arrived. My beaming smile soon disappeared when I began to hear the familiar sounds of AA AA CHOO. Not only were the brothers sneezing, I had the entire family wheezing with fret.
I have yet to purchase another pine scented arrangement for the holidays ever since.
But those are the memories that you will never forget and can still look back on and laugh with glee. Or at least I can look back and find humor in the situations. Yet I haven't mentioned it around HH's family since, I am sure that they have forgotten all about the distress that I forged into their lives that Christmas day. Surely...?...?
Sincerely,
Farming Fabulously
