A Step Back

Imagine stepping back in time thirty, maybe even forty years. Shulamith and I had such an experience this past Saturday, as we entered a flower shop to order flowers for the Utah reception. This shop was recommended to Shulamith by a friend who recently got married; it is apparently well known all over the Salt Lake Valley for its lovely flowers and incredibly low prices. Indeed!

We entered and were greeted by a sweet older lady, slow-moving and methodical, who informed us that "Sandra" was still with her 10:30 appointment (our appointment was at 11:00). We said we were happy to wait. During the five minutes we waited, we noticed a sign: "Cash or checks only. No debit/credit cards." Unusual? Yes. Unheard of in 2010? No. But then we noticed something that is unheard of today: the sound of a typewriter. Yes, that is correct. I did not say the sound of a keyboard; I said the sound of a typewriter. In a corner of the shop sat another older lady, busily typing what looked like invoice statements. . . on a typewriter!

We were then informed by the first lady that Sandra was ready, and we were led back to a table with three chairs, one of them gold. These chairs resembled ones I remember from dentists offices in the 1970's, you know...the ones with plastic covers. We were told that the bride gets to sit in the "gold chair." That she did, and I sat next to her. On the other side of the table sat Sandra, a lovely octogenarian with pure white hair and over-worked, arthritic fingers. It was down to business from there. Sandra began taking down essential information. She hand-recorded this using a ballpoint pen on a piece of plain white paper.

We would need...

One bridal bouquet made of white roses, white Calla Lilies, and one other white flower - ack, why can't I remember its name?! Starts with an "F."

Two mothers' corsages (wrist ones because the pin-on kind look totally old)

Two grandmothers' corsages (pin-on)

Nine boutonnieres (groom, 2 dads, 1 grandpa, 5 brothers)

One buffet table arrangement

Two smaller arrangements for guest book and gift tables

It took Sandra about ten minutes to figure all this out, writing furiously by hand. Occasionally, if we weren't familiar with a particular flower, she would politely request that one of her employees bring over an example. Sandra then began to price the order for us, also by hand, doing the math on paper with no calculator. This took about two minutes. She repeated the order, including prices, and announced the grand total: $199.48. Would I like to pay the entire amount or make a deposit and pay the balance when we pick up the flowers? I paid the full amount.

Next, Sandra instructed us to bring a cooler with an inch of ice in the bottom covered with a towel for the flowers going to the temple. The others should be refrigerated immediately after they are picked up. Got it. Next, she graciously asked for our forgiveness, but she needed to get to her next appointment. "You understand, don't you? Saturdays are so very busy. I have appointments all day." We told her we understood completely, and we left.

Not a computer to be found in the entire shop. Not so much as a simple calculator or credit card machine. Nevertheless, gorgeous floral displays everywhere, all thanks to a charming lady named Sandra, who told us she has been in the business for 60 years.