TOTALLY WEIRD

On Tuesday we began a four-week flower arranging class at the Phipps Garden Center. About twenty participants gathered around large tables. The instructor, Cindy Miller, went over the objective for the night: to understand how color affects the harmony and balance of floral display and to create a monochromatic arrangement. She talked about theory and methodology while actually creating an arrangement as we watched and listened. Then each of us used the flowers in a large bucket beside us  to create our own arrangement. Here are the end products for Deb and Lee.

Now here’s what’s crucial to understand. Every single aspect of this is totally weird.

First, we knew no one. We were strangers among strangers.

Second, the class is a required course for those in the Phipps Floral Design certificate program and therefore primarily for those training to be professional florists. Needless to say, neither of us hopes to pursue flowers for a second career. We were novices among professionals.

Third, there’s the gender issue. Let’s just get that out there. One of us, who will go unnamed, was the sole male in the class. He felt like a fish out of water. “How ‘bout those Bucs!” just wouldn’t fly as a conversation starter with this group.

Fourth, for at least one of us, again unnamed, this whole business is a stretch. This is not in his comfort zone.  But what we’ll do for love.

Here’s the weirdest part of all. It was actually fun.  F. U. N. 


We had a great time and can't wait 'til next Tuesday to start all over again.

And that’s what’s happening in our weird but wonderful world.