I used to buy flowers for my mom until she got too senile to appreciate them. About a month ago, I started bringing flowers to the girls at the local coffee stand - I just wanted to imagine that I had something to give to somebody. They thought it was sweet but you gotta wonder if they think it's sort of creepy too - I definitely considered the possibility. Or worse they thought that I was the saddest example of humanity on the planet. Worst case senario would be that they just refused to accept anything more than a tip - of course I would be crushed and unable to face my nemeses for weeks. So I'm at the grocery store perusing the floral section thinking what color carnations they would like - you see I would tell them that carnations were my father's favorites. I imagined this would turn their hearts to putty. My moral boundaries have totally faded away as these girls are now obligated to accept these botanical gifts forever. I ask the floral girl what color she likes - "red she says." I tell her that I'm buying them for a friend who loves carnations. "How sweet" she says. A smile came across my face - I had created a world inside this garden. Soon I would pretend the bouquet put a smile on my lover's face.