A day like any other day

When I wake up every morning, I never know where the day will end up. I’ve had days where I thought I would have a normal day at work. Instead, I found out I was going to be a father. I’ve also had days where I’ve gone to work thinking that there’s nothing but paperwork and answering phones. Instead, I had to prepare a casket by day’s end to use to bury my father.

The call that started it all

While June 26th wasn’t filled with life-changing events such as the birth of a child or the death of a parent, it definitely did not go the way I thought it would. I was working in the garden cleaning up and deadheading my 150+ containerized roses, when I received a call from our lovely Rhode Island Rose Society Rose Show Chair. It seemed she wanted to come to my garden to take a picture of it for a special class in this year’s show. I was oblivious as to what her true intent was at the time. She brought with her, her magical companion that nearly everyone who has a child or grandchild knows all too well. He is known affectionately as “The Beast” from Beauty and the Beast from Walt Disney Pictures.

“The Beast’s” Journey

“The Beast” was on a special mission to rid the world of a curse put on the world by the evil witch. His special mission was to end that horrible and dreaded Rose Rosette Disease, as well as ridding the world of the COVID-19 virus that was keeping us all from being together. To do this he first needed to find the Enchanted Rose. Apparently, he needed my help to find the Enchanted Rose as I had the only vehicle (bright red 1928 Ford Station Wagon) able to help him on his journey. There was no hesitation on my part to help him in any way that I could. We had a toast, drank some special wine that “The Beast” had brought with him, and were on our way. Off we went to the gardens in our Society and beyond to look for the Enchanted Rose that would break the witch’s curse. A spell was put on the old Ford by “The Beast” to make it go much faster and farther than it ever has gone before.

Travelling far and wide

We travelled far and wide. We visited many old friends estranged by the COVID restrictions of the past year and a half or so. At every stop “The Beast” performed his magic to help bring our Society back together again. Along the way, he found the Enchanted Rose and broke the witch’s curse with a lot of help from our Society’s friends and families. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude.

Meeting again in person – finally!

The Rhode Island Rose Society will start meeting again in person next month. This upcoming August will be the first time that we will meet in person in such a long time, and “The Beast” will be there as well to hand out the awards for the show. I may even bring the old ’28 along as well to bring him there (if he needs me to). At long last some sense of “normalcy” returns to roses, our little society, and the world! I can’t wait, and we owe it all to “The Beast” our great society members, and that special magic that “The Beast” has bestowed upon us all.

Hosting a show and volunteering to help out our local, regional, and national rose society events can be hard work. It becomes incredibly more difficult when we do things virtually. MAJOR KUDOS to the 2020/2021 Rhode Island Rose Society Rose Show Chairs and all of the volunteers in the society for putting on such a fabulous show. We deeply appreciate the hard work you have done. And, you did it with huge smiles, much laughter, and great imaginations.

Epilogue

I’m glad that I was able to help out “The Beast” on his quest for breaking the curse and finding the Enchanted Rose. It was a fun time doing what I did, but the real magic is within you. Never lose that special magic that you have been given. Share it often and with as many people as who need it. As I have said before, the rose is a great unifier, and proof positive is this year’s show, your enthusiasm, and “The Beast’s” special magic. It’s too bad that the witch put another even more powerful curse on the roses that continues to make them susceptible to that dreaded rose rosette disease. That curse probably won’t be broken for a while to come. “The Beast” tried, but this new curse is just too powerful. It’s now up to us to find the cure.

This story, while fictitious, has its origins in the imaginations of all who were part of it. My small part started years ago with my father and his determination to own a Model “A” Station Wagon. He put in many long hours and sacrificed much to have it. I’m proud to have it and drive it whenever I can. I love sharing it with others. Of course, sharing special things in my life extends way beyond the 1928 Ford and my roses. It runs through the stories that I write with my magical fountain pens, through the keyboard on my computer, along the wires that connect the world, and right to your phones and computers with this blog as the gateway. Isn’t this is a great time to be alive and growing our favorite flower?

Happy Summer to All!
It’s time to stop and smell the roses!