The Glenneyre Street Parade

When I arrived at the flower shop Saturday morning I was stunned to find hundreds and hundreds of LB residents lined up and down the streets, sitting in their lawn chairs and gearing up for something special. Apparently there was to be some sort of parade running along Glenneyre Street, right in from of our Laguna Beach shop. Great for business, bad for parking! Anyway, I had a sweet little experience while at work that I thought I'd just jot down for memories sake. Okay, storytime...

While the crowds paraded noisily through the streets of Laguna, I watched anxiously from the window, when suddenly a little girl, maybe nine or ten, came wandering into the store. She greeted me with her bright eyes and a braces-filled smile and then proceeded to smell each and every flower, one by one, careful to inhale each intoxicating aroma. With every breath she'd sigh a fulfilled "Awwwweee." I watched her as this went on for about a minute or two, until each flower had been good and snuffed.

Then, with complete confidence she walked right up to me and announced "I'm Ashley, what's your name?" I smiled and replied, "I'm Aubrey. It's a pleasure to meet you Ashley." She extended the same salutation and proceeded to tell me about how my little flower shop used to be her uncle's real estate office, and about how she has 3 sisters and 2 brothers, and that she lives with her mom in Laguna Beach, and just about everything else she could think of. After visiting for another few minutes I handed her a lady bug sticker and she thanked me for talking with her. I watched as she disappeared back into the crowds and thought to myself "What an interesting little girl. Cute too!"

Some time passed and I worked on a few arrangements, took some orders, and watched the parade from the window, when something startled me from behind. It was Ashley again! This time she asked if I needed any help around the store. To be honest, by that time I didn't have much left on my to-do-list, but quickly whipped up something that she and I could do together. While we worked on our project we got to know each other a bit more and I asked her "So, what was your favorite part of the parade?" With a mouth full of metal she smiled and said "Working in the flower shop with YOU!" My heart melted.

"Really?" I replied? "Your favorite part of the parade was working with ME?" I was touched! It was just then that her mother walked into the flower shop and thanked me profusely for allowing her daughter to work on a few arrangements with me. She told me of Ashley's grandmother and how many many years ago she was a florist and that her daughter had always wanted to follow in her footsteps. She then took out her camera and asked if I wouldn't mind taking a picture with Ashley to send to her grandma. After a few cute pics Ashley and I said our goodbyes, but before they could leave, I sent them away with a beautiful red rose and told Ashley she could come back to help me out anytime! As they left the store, Ashley turned around to flash one more toothy grin, and then she and her rose skipped away down the sidewalk. The End.