The lovely @ladiesofhive community is sponsoring a contest asking us to write about "the last time you got a gift of flowers, from whom, and for what occasion?" This is my entry, and I thank them for both the contest, and the chance to reminisce a bit.💜🌷
The last flowers I received came to me quite some time ago. I didn't even realize how long ago it was, until I went searching for the picture I took of them, shown above.
It's a beautiful bouquet, isn't it? And it was sent to me by a wonderful, wonderful lady, who has since crossed over to the other side. I still miss her. The stargazer lily in there was one of her favorite flowers. Her other favorites were daffodils, which she loved because they are always the first harbingers of springtime around these parts.
But the interesting thing isn't so much the flowers themselves, or even the lady who sent them to me. No. the interesting part of this tale is why she sent them to me.
The Backstory
The photo above was taken on May 16, 2017. The photo below is the card that came with the bouquet, which will still give you only a tiny hint as to the flowers' true meaning.
Yup, the sender of the flowers was my dear mother-in-law, Sandy. I actually lived in fear of this woman for the first couple years of my marriage, because my husband had had a falling out with her, and had made her out to be a Grade-A Bitch.
I don't know what happened between them to cause him so much animosity, but when I finally met the woman, she was never anything but kind and wonderful to me. We clicked immediately, and I loved her to pieces. We didn't get to see each other in person often, but we talked on the phone almost weekly, and since she didn't have internet at her house, she'd have me order things for her off Amazon and other sites, so that she could receive happy little packages every so often.
I'm glad this contest has given me a chance to reminisce about her a bit. Since her son is no longer in my life, and I try to think of him as little as possible, my mind doesn't wander to her that often.
So, were the flowers really just to thank you for being her daughter-in-law?
Nope.
As you've probably surmised, that marriage ended in divorce, and an unpleasant one at that. I won't go into details, but suffice to say he left me when I was at my lowest point (during a protracted illness that nearly took my life), and I had a long slog to claw my way back to self-sufficiency. The flowers arrived at some point after he'd left; I'm not even sure where we were in the divorce process at that point and I don't want to relive it by digging through my files for the paperwork to figure it out.
The best part, though...the flowers were, in her words (on the phone when I called to thank her for them), "to say I'm sorry my son is such an asshole." 😂
Gods I miss that woman! All the heart in the world, and a sense of humor too!
Image source: Canva
Of course, she didn't really take sides in the divorce. Couldn't, since she loved us both. But she cemented my loyalty to her by that simple gesture. I am so glad I got to keep this "second mom" (my own was already long gone by that point) for a couple more years before she went and joined my birth mother on the other side.
But flowers to apologize for your son being a dick? That's priceless. Miss and love you, Sandy! 💔❤️💛💚💙💜
Have a great day, y'all!
All photos are mine unless otherwise stated.
What a delightful story.
It is said, "Always, you can pick your friends, but can't choose your family..."
You just proved that a former estranged mother can choose you to be her family.
Thanks for sharing @willendorfia
Indeed she did, and I was so glad of it!
I hope you are having a wonderful Easter, if you celebrate it!
What an awesome memory, there are always good people to remember, but sometimes it reminds us of our weakness as well. With my mother-in-law, neither one liked me for years, I was a biker; but later, especially after her husband passed, it wound up I was her best friend according to her. I miss her too. but no flowers lol!!!
!LADY
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Aww! My brother was a biker too, sort of an honorary Hell's Angel in his local chapter, because he could and would fix anything mechanical for anyone - especially bikes. 😂 So I know how bikers often get a much worse rap than they deserve. I'm glad your MIL came around in the end!
OMG, I loved this story! What an odd occasion for flowers, definitely, but that makes her kind gesture all the more meaningful! Kudos for sharing this! 😁
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Thank you for reading my tale of flowers and strangeness! Told ya it was an odd one. :D
Such a lovely mother-in-law for doing such a gesture. God bless her soul!
Oh your mother in law is so thoughtful. She thinks of you even she is away and even her son leave you in that stage of your life where you need him most. Sorry to hear that. I hope you doing well right now and continue to enjoy life.
I am indeed doing much, MUCH better now. Thank you so much!
I loved this so much! I'm sorry to hear that you have an asshole ex, but glad that you received the friendship of an amazing woman in the deal at least. Having an (ex)MIL who is your friend is really nice, and the flowers are such a fab memory. I hope you are in better health these days, I hate to think of anyone deathly sick while dealing with such a situation, you're one tough cookie for making it through that! Thanks for sharing this story, and the pretty pics! 💚
Thank you for the kind words! Life isn't always fair, but it is very true that "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." I may have come out of it with some chronic health issues, but my mind got toughened up like you wouldn't believe! 😂
Wow, what a loving mother-in-law. So sorry that your ex was an asshole. Hope you are much better now and doing great?
Keep living Lady.
I am indeed doing far better now, thank you!
Wow that's great. Take care ma
She must such a power lady and so are you. Your ex-husband gave you some image of her, but glad that you met her and got to know her for what she really was. It does happen to us, people give us opinion about others the way they perceive them which is also more or less a reflection of their own character. I am sure you must be missing her and that's also true that she must be blessing you from heaven.
Yes, I do miss her. I also wish I had the opportunity to get to know her sooner. Lesson learned though. Now I always form my own opinions about people!
My red flag? When the man says things about his mom. True or not. I'm so sorry for your sad experience but you met a woman you came to love and who loved you.
I probably should have picked up on that, but the tale he told was, of course, one where he was the aggrieved party. It wasn't until much later that I learned that he was never, ever in the wrong (according to him). But by then it was too late. Live and learn! I don't much like looking back on that period in my life, so yes, I'm very glad this gave me a chance to reminisce fondly about one of the best things to come out of it. 💜
You rock. Regret is a wasted emotion. So we take it as the school of life and just move forward with our lessons.
You are so right!
An interesting story. It is good to be good always. The flowers and the right up means a lot to you
Yes indeed!
Wow that is too bad about your husband. That must of been so hard and heartbreaking.
She was so wonderful to you. I am so glad you had her to help you.
Have a great rest of the week and weekend. 🤩
Barb 😊
!BBH !CTPHello @willendorfia Your flowers are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry your mother-in-law is not here anymore on earth but I know her spirit is watching over you.
Thank you! Yes, divorce is always heartbreaking, but in this case I do believe it was for the better. Enjoy your weekend as well!
You're welcome @willendorfia yes I understand it was for the better. Have a great day and evening! !BBH !CTP
I loved reading your story!!!
My first Mother in Law was like that. She was a sweetheart and so much fun to be around. I love she sent you flowers.
And still working out how to turn off the dumb thumb thing that my shirt keeps hitting but looking like my keys are working????
Keep being you and NOT blogging but just, you know, sharing YOU!!!!
And if my thumb touches the pad one more time and my page flies to the top of your post again I will not be responsible for the lives of those around me. LOLLL
HAPPY EASTER and many HUGS sent your way!!!
Thank you for reading my story!
Would it be possible to cover the touchpad with something, like painter's tape?
Happy Easter to you, too! 🤗
@willendorfia, this is a great story of yours. Surely, you too did make a perfect mother-daughter (in-law) tandem!☺️
Yes, we definitely did. I still miss her kindness and encouragement. Thank you for reading my story!
I found your story great. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it!
Having a good mother-in-law is having a second mother, I didn't have a mother-in-law, because she had passed away, but I know that a good mother-in-law is worth gold even if the marriage didn't work out. I'm sorry for your loss. Blessings
!LADY
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You are so right! I got very lucky to have not one, but two fantastic mothers-in-law in my life. This story is about my second mother-in-law, but my first mother-in-law was actually more of a best friend, than anything else. I hated divorcing her son, because I knew it would mean the end of that (that's just how that family operated). Perhaps someday I'll have occasion to share some cool stories about my time spent with her, as well, because I have many!
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