ROSE GARDEN FLOWER GIRL TEST

When the rose garden calls how do you answer?

There’s only one answer when it includes a birthday for a flower girl.

And with a flower girl. With four flower girls?

It started two weeks ago.

My wife and I put on our Portland shoes and planned on walking the Rose Festival Parade.

We started in the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.

It had been a while since we’d been there and worried about crowds and parking.

We have a routine we do that invokes a ‘Parking Goddess.’

On that day the Parking Goddess came through with a great parking space.

Yesterday we invoked the Parking Goddess and two cars pulled out of spaces right in front of me.

But that wasn’t the biggest thrill.

The plan was pulling three households and dogs together for a birthday celebration in the Rose Garden.

How do these things even happen? But happen they did when eight people and two dogs came together in the same place.

White Shirt For Red Roses

Eight people, two dogs, and coffee delivered along the way.

Was it a happy day? Ecstatic? Yes and yes.

Even more fun, I dressed up like Old Portland for a day in the flowers.

A white dress shirt and a sports jacket passed for dressing up.

And a big sun hat.

Along with a dog in white dress shirt, jacket, and more.

We got there early, called on the Parking Goddess, and found a nice bench to watch the flower people wander the grounds.

Some people avoid places they hear bad things about, and go places they hear good things about.

Too simplistic?

You tell me. I got down and back without getting hooked on meth, fentanyl, or heroin; I wasn’t attacked by zombie junkies, homeless desperation, or shot dead for daring to leave my house.

I took a chance? Yes. So did my wife. And we had an undercover masked dog for protection.

Did I mention that?

Do I recommend a Portland ramble? Yes I do.

Pick your spots and get out there.

Yesterday it was my honor and joy seeing young people enjoy a place with so much love.

From the scent of roses in the air, to their vibrant colors, to a beautiful cityscape in the background, add people living it up for the complete picture.

At first the flower people were strangers reveling in the same beauty I was.

Then I saw my people walking above in the parking lot, turned around and saw more of my people with coffee at the bench.

The plans came together? Yes they did.

Grandma, Granddad, two sons, two daughters’ in-law, two dogs, one toddler, one with a due date, all together.

It was a great plan at the beginning that only got better.

A Rose Garden Birthday Request

“This year I don’t want present or flowers or candy. I just want your time.”

My time, the kids’ time, Portland’s time, Rose time, Oregon time.

We had it all.

This is the good part: we gathered and left and regathered three times at three separate locations.

And we all stuck together.

That’s when you know something special is happening.

But don’t worry, it won’t last.

I took the ‘no presents’ request at face value.

Does anyone really mean it when they say “No presents?”

Not when you get the “some people remembered my birthday more than my husband.”

But honey remember the time, the flowers, the family?

Today is a new day. Yesterday there were flowers and books and food and drink, but no present from me because . . . ?

If I say “no presents” and get no presents then I’m happy someone listens.

Dear Husbands,

When your wife says “No presents” she isn’t talking to you.

Now I’ve got another year to figure it out.

If it turns out to be a day like yesterday I’ll be even happier than I am today.

And I’ll add a gift to the whole affair just in case.

Then I’ll pass the Rose Garden flower girl test.