Stacey to the Rescue

Valentine’s Day used to be easy for Russ. He would call up our favorite florist Family Garden and they would say, “We have something perfect in mind for Dana.” Russ never had to describe anything, think up what he might want or even give them a credit card. Everything was taken care of and whatever arrived, I always loved. Family Garden always knew best. Then they closed. Poor Russ, his life got a lot more stressful.

See Russ has Valentines PSTD. Our first Valentines together, before we were even married he gave me a lens for a camera that I did not like. Not that I didn’t like the lens, but the lens did not improve the functions of the camera I was already unhappy with so it felt like a terrible waste. It was a creative idea on Russ’ part, but very unromantic.

I am not a big Valentines girl. I don’t need a big gift. A sweet note is fine, but Russ feels the pressure to do more. This year the answer came in a friend and neighbor, Stacey, who is terrifically talented in so many ways, offering her flower arranging skills in bouquets. Russ jumped right on that and tonight Stacey’s daughter and husband delivered a gorgeous flower arrangement.

I Stacey how much I loved them. Each side of the arrangement is different and I wish I had an electric turning carousel to display them on. Stacey told me that Russ had asked her to use the latest quilt as the inspiration for my arrangement. It was a very sweet connection for him to make. The flowers certainly do go well with that quilt.

I hope that Stacey continues this venture because it would relieve Russ of the worry and pressure to continually overcome the camera lens gift. For the record I would have forgotten about that lens so many years ago, but Russ constantly brings it up. It is his only true gift fail.

Just having him home is Valentines gift enough.