in bloom

Dear Little Orchid Plant,

Thank you for being the direct cause of conversation for me today. I was committed to transporting you home safely, and I am so glad that because of you, I was able to engage with the kind old man on the bus. I smiled in his direction as I walked on and took a seat next to him. I noticed him glance over at you before he proceeded to make a comment about your beauty. Of course, I could only agree with him completely. His eyes twinkled as he spoke of your intricate detail, as if it was his sole purpose to bring to my attention the complex craftsmanship of your delicate petals. Your bright magenta blossoms couldn’t help but swell with pride as he boasted of their exquisiteness.

Coincidence is such a wonderful thing in times like these, and I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I pondered the chances of sharing a seat with someone who knew so much about a flower that had just recently come into my possession. I learned that my new floral-loving friend used to grow orchids in Hong Kong twenty years ago, and the depth of his knowledge demanded my uninterrupted attention as I sat there beside him. He spoke of tranquility, quietness and simplicity as he shared the proper techniques required to successfully care for you. He laughed when he told me that caring for orchids back in his younger days proved to be more difficult than tending to his own children. You sat in silence, listening as we conspired a strategy to keep you alive as long as possible.

We talked of his schooling overseas, and his decision to move to Canada in order to be closer to his two sons. We talked of injustice in the world and the unrest that always seems to be rooted in the struggle for power, land and having the upper hand. He told me we lived in a crazy world.  A pause in conversation as I looked over at you; “but there is still beauty to be found in it,” I said hopefully. His smile was his response as he turned his focus back to you. His head bobbed in agreement, and his mind was back on flowers. He told me that orchids like you were an important reminder of the fragility of life and the beauty that is right in front of us if we choose to notice it. We went back and forth in easy conversation for almost the entirety of the bus ride. Perhaps we were too caught up in our own banter, seeing as he missed his stop by a long shot.

So, my thanks goes out to you little orchid, as you sat with us, still and unobtrusive. Listening to two strangers talk of you admiringly, you stood there swaying delicately. Thank you for providing a shared space for conversation; a common denominator that allowed two strangers to connect on a dingy bus after a long day of work. I will do my best you keep you alive and well.

 Sincerely,

A