Mother's Day Shopping

Yesterday I went to this very good flower shop in town here, asked for a bouquet at a certain reasonable price level, and told the guy not to make it too traditional—my mom likes pretty wild stuff. So he brought out this bang-up extravaganza of floral fireworks, and I was most enthusiastic. Plus which, they'll die, and my mom won't have to take care of them forever. I think giving people a potted plant is something like giving them a puppy—it obligates them to water it and all. It's the gift that keeps on taking. But cut flowers please you and then leave. Sayonara, baby, I'll call you some time, like that.

Then I went to this boutiquey little paper shop to get a card. I walked around the card rack about three times, peering at it for any sign under which Mother's Day cards might be found. Finally the clerk said, "Looking for Mother's Day cards?" I pointed at her and grinned. "You're good," I said. But in a friendly way, which is how she took it. She came over and showed me the few they had. One was retro, a '50s mom. "I don't know about retro," I said. "It might remind her that she's getting pretty retro herself." I picked one that had a bird going "MOM MOM MOM MOM" but I wasn't happy with it really, and then I saw one that was a simple bouquet. Of course! We've got a theme going! Back went the bird. I have no idea if she'll notice the thematic coherence and all, but I put the thought into it anyway, and one is told that's what counts.