flowers for my dearest
Like most of you, I’ve come to the conclusion that people do not mean what they say or say what they really mean. Personally I try to be honest and true to myself as much as I can. Unfortunately I learnt the hard way that it doesn’t always pay to be real. Of course you can ignore what everyone else thinks, but you’d soon find yourself slighted by loved ones. If and when that happens, you’d find yourself alone in the corner humming Johnny Hates Jazz’s immortal line, “I wish that I could turn back the clock…”.
One of the things that pisses me off till no end is the commercialisation of special days. You know the drill — Valentine’s, Mother’s, Father’s, Secretary, Teacher, Children etc. I don’t mind stuff like World Aids Day or Earth Day, so long they don’t sell me buy pink ribbons (guess which poor children in the Third World painstakingly sew and stitch the damn things for no monies?) or make me switch off all electrical stuff for an hour (doesn’t work in Malaysia, Vincent tells you why). Of course not everyone shares my views and that is why you see people lugging flower bouquets bigger than their heads around on these days.
As it is, I am not as obstinate as I used to be. Age softens you somewhat, and changes your perception and views on things. To which I must state that I am 28 this year — a 40 y/o thinks that I am a puppy, but to a 18 y/o I am a dinosaur. What you wouldn’t give to be 28 eh 
Anyway 28 years is plenty of time to understand certain things, and here’s what I learned:
It’s really not the gift item, but the thought behind it — especially more precious if it comes from someone who does not believe in ze commercialisation. People may mouth off to their respective loved ones that it’s a waste to spend this or that money on special days, or that commercialised special days are not worth celebrating. At which point you should turn around, smack them (or not, heh), grab and shake them hard and scream, “JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT zOMG!!!”
Which was what I would have done if I were 18. At 28, I wisely STFU and secretly and sneakily plan my move. This past weekend was Mother’s Day and I was not able to go back to see my folks. A week prior to ze day, I scoured the Net for local on-line florists to deliver flowers to my mom.
My preferred on-line florist is Pure Seed. Once I got them to deliver the bouquet to me so I could personally present it to the recipient. I was bowled over by the beautiful and unique arrangement, and I stuck to their service ever since. Unfortunately they do not deliver to Johor so I had to look for other options.
Blooming.com.my, the more well-known on-line florist delivers to Johor at an extra RM100. Sod that.
After a few hours of browsing several on-line florist websites, I came to the conclusions that: (1) all prices are slightly marked-up so you have to pay something like 15% extra (not including delivery charges) if you can’t buy directly from a standalone shop; (2) Blooming’s products sound like female porn stars. Individually they are fine but try browsing page after page of products named Svetlana, Katrina, Paulina, Chantelle, Christabelle… (3) ALL local on-line florist websites are in dire needs of design revamps, first thing to fix is navigation options.
Finally I came across Love.com.my. Rather obvious and corny name for a florist, but photos of their products are not bad, and their gift options such as chocolates are not limited to deliveries in Klang Valley. I placed an order for a bouquet of pink roses + Ferrero Rocher chocolates, deferred my payment until I called them the following day to confirm the payable amount (friendly and most helpful personnels). For the same product + delivery, Blooming would have cost RM280. For Love.com.my, I paid RM160 including RM15 delivery charges. I think the reason it’s cheaper is because they liaise with florists near to the recipient; e.g. my mom’s in Batu Pahat and her flowers came from Johor Bahru.
So on the afternoon of last Friday, a flower delivery guy appeared at a Batu Pahat primary school to deliver a dozen lovely pink roses with chocolates to my mom, who is a contract teacher at said school. She was surprised, embarrassed and from what my sister (who went home for the Mother’s Day weekend) told me, most happy. Apparently the delivery caused a small commotion in the school, and her colleagues were marvelling at and envious of her nice, thoughtful and dutiful daughter. Mission accomplished.
That is why you send flowers. She is a wonderful and pretty amazing mother, and worth everything and more. Love ya.
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Personally, I like the idea of gifts on non-occasion days, like maybe “Happy Wednesday” or just because I passed a shop selling something and I thought that item in the window was perfect for somone I love, and so bought it and wrapped it. Spontaneous.
I’m glad you found a florist that need not her doing the payment. LOL
suertes: that’s nice also. but somehow ppl expect something on these special days. not necessarily on that very day — at least go out makan or cook something nice at home. just.. something.
horng: hah would be damn sad if the delivery guy appeared then asks for payment hahah
if this was fbook, i would tick on the “I like” thingy… heheh… – passer by-
ah, reminds me of the particular friend who needs to send his gf flowers, especially after said gf reads this.
awwwww this post is so heart warming!
shit la i must learn. i almost forgot mother’s day this year
0_o
i… i’m a little bewildered by the end of your post ah suan. doesn’t sound like you wan zomg it’s the damn seasonal affective disorder isn’t it!!!
mei heong: heh thanks for your comment and thought
KY: uhuh
pinkpau: luckily i remembered one week earlier
someone else reminded me
chen: o_0 don’t worry next week i bring out the cleavers ok
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww