Genuinely Curious

Please know that this post is in no way an attempt to be funny or glib or humorous. I’m genuinely curious to know how others would handle this situation. Because this is where my mind goes when I’m lying awake in the middle of the night. **

A respected businesswoman in my hometown passed away yesterday. She owned a local floral shop, right in the middle of downtown. Although I’m not sure of the exact number of years she was in business, my mother fondly tells the story of how my dad sent her a dozen red roses from this florist on the day I was born, so I know the shop has been in business at *least* 40-ish something years. For as long as I can remember, the shop has been right there, conveniently located down the street from my favorite bakery.

Now, here’s my question: For those people who might wish to pay their respects in the traditional method by sending flowers to the funeral home and/or church, what is the proper thing to do? Although this woman ran her shop with her daughter, and they undoubtedly had other employees, I can’t help but think it would be the height of insensitivity to ask them to prepare the arrangements at this time. I’m sure they’ll want to prepare the casket piece, but to call up the store and request to purchase a floral arrangement for their own mother/boss seems pretty tactless. Not only that, I imagine the store is closed at this time.

Then again, it also seems inappropriate to send flowers to this woman’s funeral, made by a “competitor”. Or does it? I mean, if *I* owned a flower shop, would I be hurt or offended if people used another florist to send flowers to my mother’s funeral?

Just curious what everyone else thinks …..

PS. Speaking of handling situations, thanks for your kind comments and suggestions regarding the “knighting” issue with Brayden. We have come up with what we think is a good solution. Shortly after moving here, she tried out for, and was accepted into, the 5th grade Honors Chorus. Their year-end performance is Thursday night, and Blaine and I are going to make (perhaps slightly more than we would normally) a pretty big deal of it, taking the family out for ice cream afterwards; still, making no mention of the knighting ceremony the next morning. Then, when (if) she is upset about her brother and sister being knighted and not her, we’ll be able to say to all three of them, “Look, Thursday was about Brayden, Friday was about Kellen and Kendrie. Sometimes you’re the bug; sometimes you’re the windshield. Deal with it. Move on.”

Because we’re compassionate parents like that.

**Kidding. I NEVER lie awake in the middle of the night. I’m one of those obnoxious people who falls asleep before my head ever even hits the pillow, and in fact, Blaine has accused me of falling asleep on my WAY to the bed before.