Some people do choose to say it with flowers<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Do you want to express a heartfelt message to
\nloved ones, but cannot find the right words? Perhaps the best
\nway, then, is to say it with flowers.<\/p>\n
A bouquet of flowers makes a perfect gift for a wife or
\nmother. Specially selected flowers can also brighten the day of
\nan ailing friend, or sweeten up a business relationship.<\/p>\n
Noted gynecologist and sex consultant Boyke Dian Nugraha
\nregularly sends flowers to his wife. He said the practice began
\nwhen the two were still in university.<\/p>\n
"Until five years into our marriage, we placed flowers at the
\nplace we first met, on my campus, each year. People who saw the
\nflowers probably wondered where they came from," he laughed.<\/p>\n
Although their busy schedules mean the sending of bouquets is
\nnot as regular today, Boyke never forgets to send flowers to his
\nwife of 15 years on their wedding anniversary or her birthday.<\/p>\n
"I order the flowers in Cikini myself. Usually, I ask for red
\nroses. We both love them. And I ask the florist to create a
\nspecial design for her. My wife is very happy if I also give her
\na poem that I wrote along with the flowers."<\/p>\n
Thanks to the Internet, it is now no longer necessary to make
\norders by phone or in person.<\/p>\n
The Net can also cut down the time and cost with the sending
\nof virtual flowers by e-mail.<\/p>\n
Salsa restaurant's public relations manager Teges Prita Soraya
\nsaid she sometimes received flowers from her Italian husband.<\/p>\n
"My husband sends flowers for special occasions, besides the
\ngifts ... He always sends me roses, but sometimes he also sends
\nthem virtually through e-mails."<\/p>\n
Women whose husbands never brought home flowers before would
\nprobably feel suspicious if they suddenly showed up on their
\ndoorstep with a bouquet.<\/p>\n
"My husband is not a romantic type who will bring flowers
\nhome. If he did, I would be suspicious. He might do something
\nwrong," said Tuti, a working mother.<\/p>\n
Some people also find they are not comfortable giving flowers
\nas gifts, preferring items such as food, fruit, cosmetics,
\njewelry and leather products.<\/p>\n
"I never give flowers to my wife," popular monolog actor Butet
\nKartaredjasa said. "It's just not me. I'm not accustomed to such
\na thing and I will feel awkward doing so."<\/p>\n
He said his gift to his wife since he was a third-year high
\nschool student was perfume, besides attention and kisses for her.<\/p>\n
"My wife never asks me to bring her flowers either," said
\nButet, who recently took part in a multimedia show, Joko Tingkir.<\/p>\n
Wedding<\/p>\n
Flowers are usually given on birthdays or anniversaries, or to
\ncheer up sick friends. Many wedding reception invitations,
\nhowever, include a note requesting that guests not bring flowers
\nor gifts.<\/p>\n
The unspoken understanding is that cash will be given.<\/p>\n
"I don't care. Sometimes I bring flowers to a wedding
\nreception although the invitation tells me not to do so. I will
\ndo it mostly if those inviting me are rich people who don't need
\nanything else. But I follow the request if I think they need cash
\nmore," said noted conductor Addie M.S. of Twilite Orchestra.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that giving cash was more practical.<\/p>\n
"I have some presents from my own wedding that until now have
\nnot been opened," said Addie, who married pop singer Memes in
\n1987.<\/p>\n
He does not forget to send flowers, especially her favorite
\nlilies and chrysanthemums, to his wife. He said she preferred
\nsingle colored flower arrangements because she found them more
\nelegant.<\/p>\n
It never crosses his mind to give her jewelry or gems instead.<\/p>\n
"I always give her flowers. It's special. As a man, this is
\nmaybe my weakness that I'm different from others who usually give
\ntheir loved ones diamond or gold jewelry. Maybe it's because my
\nwife does not like wearing them. Someday I may wish to give my
\nwife a diamond, but not now," Addie said.<\/p>\n
For some expatriates, giving flowers is nothing unusual.<\/p>\n
An expatriate man who did not want to be identified said he
\nregularly gave flowers to his wife and daughter on special
\noccasions like birthdays and anniversaries.<\/p>\n
"They are a great way to just show someone that you care and
\nto brighten their day," said the geologist, who added he was a
\nfan of jasmine.<\/p>\n
His wife loves the gift, especially white gladiolli and red
\nroses.<\/p>\n
"She enjoys getting flowers. Indonesia has so many wonderful
\nflowers and such talented florists making each arrangement a work
\nof art."<\/p>\n
A teacher, Sara Oxley-Furney, loves receiving flowers on her
\nbirthdays and Valentine's Day.<\/p>\n
"I used to think I loved the whole idea of the delivery man
\ndriving up and walking toward your front door with a huge
\nbouquet, but I think actually that we have all bought into the
\nidea of flowers being a fairly straightforward declaration of
\nlove," the British national said.<\/p>\n
"So when someone sends them to you they're not living a
\ncliche, they are actually saying what they feel about you in
\ncapital letters for all the world to see."<\/p>\n
She said the gift of flowers was an excellent choice in many
\nrespects. Expensive gifts, such as jewelry, make the recipient
\nfeel he or she owes something to the sender unless they know each
\nother well, Oxley-Furney added.<\/p>\n
A gift of flowers can be unforgettable, she said, recollecting
\ntwo personal experiences.<\/p>\n
During her college days she once received an enormous bouquet
\non her birthday. She happily assumed it was from a man she had a
\ncrush on.<\/p>\n
"I was totally speechless, fortunately, and opened the card to
\nfind out they were from someone else, actually from the then man-
\nof-my-dreams best friend! Very memorable, for the wrong reasons,"
\nsaid the fan of daffodils and sunflowers.<\/p>\n
The other memorable experience happened last year, when she
\nwas in Shanghai and received a bouquet from a man, now her
\nhusband, who was in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"At that time, the whole reception desk staff came into my
\noffice followed by the office assistant carrying an enormous
\nbouquet of lilies," Oxley-Furney said.<\/p>\n
"They were pink and white and smelled like heaven. I was
\ntotally amazed. They stayed on my desk for weeks. Then he called
\nto see if I had got them. I nearly got on a plane right then!"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/some-people-do-choose-to-say-it-with-flowers-1447893297",
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