"Honey, I Watered Your Houseplants for You"

I was talking with a friend of mine last week and we were discussing spring outdoor gardening and our house plants. Sometimes it takes no more than a word to trigger a memory ...

My husband was one of those people who would NOT have a faux plant in the house. He hated them in restaurants and offices. He claimed he could tell fake from real by just looking; no need to touch or feel.

I was in the hospital having had a hip replacement and he came bounding into the room so pleased with himself. "Honey, I watered all your houseplants today." The lady in the bed next to me gave me a look that spoke volumes. Obviously, she'd lived this moment before. Okay, ready for it? Here goes: With all proper concern, he announced, "The ficus in the entryway isn't well, the water just poured through the container. It took me forever to clean and dry the floor. And I put the ficus outside on the porch where it can get some sun."

To our credit, we tried, but we were laughing so hard, the tears were flowing. He looked at me, he looked at her, he looked - confused. There was nothing to do but 'fess up. "Sweetie, that ficus isn't real. You were watering a faux ficus. There's nothing in the container to hold the water." Even today, just the memory of the look on his face dissolves me to tears of laughter.

Can you handle one more? This memory evokes a Mothers' Day when he brought me roses. He brought them home the night before and left them in the car intending to put them in the garage fridge overnight. Dinner, a beer ot two later, and they were forgotten ... 'til the next morning when he went out to the garage where the roses were still in the car - dead! When I walked into the kitchen I found a vase of dead roses with a card and a note that read, "brain dead don't count. I love you!!" The vase (dead roses and all,) card, and note stayed out for all to see for the rest of the day. The family shared many smiles at our Mothers' Day gathering. After all, as he reminded us (often,) "it's the thought that counts!"

Happy Mothers' Day! And it's NOT just the thought that counts; pick up the phone and call Mom.