Free Calla Lillies
Sometimes I wonder about the actions I take.
And why I do them.
Do I have an ultra-enormous case of boredom?
A few times a year I look at the Craigslist free section. Not only do I look at the listings in my home town but I look to see if any freebies are offered in New York City, in Sydney, Australia, or maybe I’ll check to see what’s available in Mexico City. I don’t know why. I just do it.
In most locations, the offerings include a combination of non-working hot tubs, sliding glass doors, and couches that only a slobbering dog would love. What is going on in the people’s lives that they have these items to give away? What will they do when the items are gone? And I wonder about who says “yeah, I’ll take that”. Who are they? What will they do with the discard?
I fret that likely that more items will end up in the landfill. I’m glad someone wants to take them, give more life to them. Anyone not living under a rock in the last twenty years knows that landfills around the world, have been filling at an alarming rate. Our marketing and financial success has taken a toll in other ways as evidenced by the amount we discard every day.
I never answer any of the ads. Until recently.
Free calla lilies, the ad said.
Someone was giving away, one to a family, calla lilies, a plant I admire and enjoy viewing. Calla lilies are among the most elegant of plants, especially the ivory blooms against the rich emerald large tropical leaves. Soon I would be putting in a garden in a new area and could use some.
Only the serious should respond, the ad said. That’s me, I thought. I’m serious about this.
As a family of one, I responded to the email. I was ready to set an appointment but my schedule changed as I was going out of town. I wrote to say that I could not get them then but I would contact the giver when I returned.
Weeks passed and I forgot about the lilies.
A few days ago I noticed the ad was there. I responded. By email we agreed upon a time to meet at a church in a nearby town on a Monday morning at 9:00 a.m.
As I drove to the church, my suspicious nature arose. What if it was a ruse to get me to the church, to entice me to come to services there? What if a serial killer had placed the ad? I would arrive, park, and s/he could shoot me from a distance with no one ever knowing that calla lilies were the draw to get me to the area. What if…
Using my GPS, easily I found the church with the parking gates locked. I parked on the street and waited. Apartment buildings surrounded the building so I could only hope that no one had plans to imitate the Las Vegas shooter.
I sat for a couple of minutes, peering through my windshield, checking my phone for messages. Then to my left came a small elderly Korean woman wearing stylish turquoise eye glasses, carrying an empty water bottle and a bag with a cereal box filled with beautiful calla lilies. With a smile, she handed them to me, explaining that I needed to cut the leaves before planting them.
Unless there is a tracking device in the dirt around the bulbs, it was all a pretty wonderful experience and a great way to start the week. Bowing and placing my hand on my heart, I thanked her profusely. Yes, I can afford to buy calla lilies for my garden but each time I look at those as they grow and multiply, I will think of her and her kindness.
And they will remind me to pass the good on to someone else — -free.
