once there was a stoneman

I saw a bouquet of these at Costco this week.  Aren’t they magnificent? I think they are my new favorite flower.  I’ve always loved stargazer lilies and orchids best, but every time I even caught a glimpse of them from the corner of my eye I couldn’t help but smile. 

I bee-lined over and grabbed them before anyone else could, those flower vultures that hang out in Costco.  I smelled them and held them tight and stared off into space as I imagined what they would look like in my kitchen.  yes, I need more orange-red in my kitchen.  everyone needs a little orange-red. 

and then they were ten bucks.  And I put them back.

and then I grabbed them again as I saw a woman eyeing them in the protein bar aisle.  And then I put them in a bag of water. 

and then they were ten bucks.  and I put them back. and walked away.

and then I worried for the remainder of my shopping trip that someone would take them, so I meandered back to the flowers a few times, just to make sure they were still there.  and I knew they were because from about 3 isles down, I started smiling.

and so I just stood there, and soaked up all their happiness, and then I left.

don’t I have the most amazing self-restraint?

I’ve been thinking about them ever since.