Six yellow roses and babies breath comprised the bouquet my husband gave to me.
HE STRODE ACROSS the living room with a bouquet of cellophane-wrapped buttercup yellow roses.
The flowers were unexpected, as flowers often are from him.
I stretched my hands to accept the roses, to pull him close, kiss him and tell him how very much this surprise meant to me, how I appreciated the sweetness of it all.
He intuitively seems to understand when I need a day-brightener, a gesture of love and care and concern. And I did, need the roses, to cheer me.
It’s been a difficult past month facing a sudden sensory hearing loss that has left me with near deafness in my right ear. He has been there to support me, to listen, to embrace me in the moments when I feel overwhelmed.
I love this about my husband. In his own quiet way, he understands.
I love that he is teaching our son the art of giving—from the heart—not for an occasion or a have-to or a celebration. Our son will understand that flowers should be all about love.
All of this I thought as I arose from the recliner where I had been reading, slanted the wrapped bouquet across my arms and spontaneously sashayed across the living room, hips swaying, right arm waving in a beauty queen wave.
At that moment I felt as if I had won the crown. And I had.
© Copyright 2011Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
You have a wonderful man but I know I am telling you something you have known for a very long time.
Yes, I do. And, yes, I’ve known this for nearly 30 years.
Awww I must admit that made me tear up a bit. Good for him for putting a smile in your face and beauty pageant sashay in your walk.
Even I got a bit teary-eyed when he walked in with a bouquet of roses.
Way to go Randy!!!!!!
Wish more husbands realized that sometimes the unexpected flowers mean the most.
Lanae knows of what she writes. She’s a floral designer.
What a heartwarming story! Everyonce in a while my husband comes home with a bouquet of wildflowers for me. Lanae is right, it is the unexpected flowers that mean the most.
Oh, Katie, a bouquet of wildflowers… How wonderful when you think of the time your husband took to gather them and how he was thinking of you as he was picking each stem.
Every spring Randy brings me a bouquet of lilacs. He’s done it for years and it’s not really a surprise any more. But I still appreciate his thoughtfulness and the tradition of spring that this has become.
Audrey, You and your husband sound like you have a wonderful harmony. An inspiration! Thanks for sharing. I have to tell you a funny story. My brother’s wife was visiting from up north just this weekend and I was telling her about your blog, and that you were the cousin of the mayor of Floodwood. Okay, her son, Reese H. taught school with Jeff in Floodwood!!! I guess you just can’t talk about anybody!!!
We do love each other and I suppose that counts as “wonderful harmony.” Nice way to phrase it.
How interesting that your relative’s son taught with my cousin in Floodwood. It really is a small world.
Glad to hear my big brother is a thoughtful husband with a few romantic moments. You both do have a great harmony. Enjoy!
Yes, he is thoughtful and romantic in his own way and I love him dearly. You have an absolutely wonderful brother.