When Ms. Cranky first moved to New York, she was thrown out of her three-month sublet like two and a half months early. But, Cranky was still nice then, having just moved from Philadelphia, or naïve, something like that and left the apartment (she had a written contract, the whole thing!). Now, Ms. Cranky would just change the locks and say “See you in three months when the contract is finished!” Her dear friend put her up in her high rise building for several months which was wonderful; there were cute doormen and everything. Ms. Cranky would often come home from work and see huge bouquets that had arrived for residents and bury her face in them. She couldn’t get enough of the beauty of them and the smell. One time, the doorman told Cranky --- “You know sometimes they don’t even come down to pick the bouquets up.” And Ms. Cranky was astounded, --- say ‘no' to a bouquet --- how could you? She’d be happy with one lousy bloom.
Ms. Cranky grows flowers all year long on her windowsill and in her kitchen. In the summer many plants go out to the fire escape (don’t worry, firemen, they’re in a corner, not blocking anybody!). Ms. Cranky also gardens in a local community garden and just about falls over when she gets near her roses and bright purple morning glories. On her recent vacation, she bought new seeds (17cents, how could you not?) and is planting them later today, hoping they will have time to grow before the frosts come.
Cranky admits to liking flowers with a scent best. Her orchids, a wonderful gift from the guy on the first floor, don’t have a scent and she loves them but wishes they did smell; they look like they should.
Cranky once told her old boyfriend that she didn’t like hydrangeas because they didn’t smell and her old boyfriend (notice the use of the word ‘old’) looked like he was going to cry. She never did that again. She’s since learned to appreciate the buoyant bushy flower and has heard how you make them bluer etc. by adding certain elements to the soil from hydrangea aficionados.
But, even if one didn’t like hydrangeas or daffodils or anything, a gift is a gift, a fan is a fan, and gratefulness is a wondrous virtue. Hey, poor dear man who tried to give a thoughtful gift to Madonna --- anytime you want to drop flowers off to Ms. Cranky, she’d be delighted, any kind except those ones that look like red and purple brains, they’re the only flowers Ms. Cranky actually doesn’t like, but if you, by mistake gave them to her, she would never let you know. She’d just ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh’ and be so grateful for your thoughtfulness and make you glad you went out of your way to be kind and giving. Maybe Lourdes is being trained better --- let’s hope!
Thanks for stopping by everybody --- remember to ‘stop and smell the roses’; sorry, couldn’t resist.
Ms. Cranky, September 13, 2011
P.S. Ms. Cranky, all these years after being put out of her sublet, still cannot walk down that particular street in Brooklyn where it occurred. It was and is a beautiful street and it’s near where Cranky lives now but it was so traumatic an event. It had been such a huge move for Cranky to leave her small home and friends of over 20 years and she was so excited about being here and then it all turned hurtful so quickly. Ouii. People need to act better, don’t you think? They really need to SHAAAPPPE UP. But, nobody reading this. Thanks again for stopping by.
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