An orchid for no reason

It's been a rather grueling week.

I've been filling in as the page one editor, a job that requires skills I don't have: namely, excellent news judgment, an ability to multitask to the nth degree, and the grace to remain calm under incredible pressure. Oh yeah, and the eloquence to speak articulately at meetings about stories I know very little about because they haven't yet been written.

Doug, meanwhile, has had his cold settle in his chest; he's been coughing like a consumptive twenty-four hours a day. He's also had to work late every night this week; on Wednesday night, he didn't get home until 8:30.

And on top of everything else, we're getting six inches of snow. On the second day of spring. It's just not fair.

So imagine my delight when I came home one evening to find a green and purple ProFlowers box on the front doorstep. Inside was this--a graceful, delicate, blooming orchid.

Completely for no reason. No occasion. No birthday. No holiday. No thanks for a good deed done. Just a spontaneous gift.

It came from friends Jeff and Eric, who live in New York. The card read, "Laurie and Doug, You don't have enough work to do. Here's an orchid!"

There are no words ... But there are smiles. Big happy smiles.

Thanks, Jeff. You're a prince! You too, Eric!