WET WRAP (Say it fast 3 times) Wet wrap. Wet wrap. Wet wrap. Lilac season IS spring. Distinctive color. .Gentle perfume. Unfortunately, it is too brief. Lilacs engulfed our house every spring. The backyard, vases in the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. A splendid time of year. A neighbor stopping by for morning coffee to catch up on all the news. She’d leave with an empty cup and handful of fresh cut lilacs. Compliments for Cecelia were as abundant as the lilacs. A humble woman, her cheeks blushed with the praise.
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CECELIA’S GARDEN
The backyard fence transformed into a wall of lilacs. Three colors: the most popular light purple, darker purple, and white. Blooming for two-three weeks in May. First, the buds. Then opening to a vibrant tone against the heartshaped, dark green leaves. This natural wall of shrubs at maturity, were ten to twelve feet tall. Disguising the hideous chain link fence. And became a natural border between the neighbors. Our grandparents make the annual drive from their urban apartment to our house. Less than ten miles and he didn’t need to get on the expressway. Complaining that we lived to far “out in the country.” It could have been for Mother’s Day, celebrate my sister Pat’s birthday and my birthday, which are May 16 and 17. After complaining about the drive and the hugs, our grandparents relaxed. Playful and interested in their grandchildren.
WET WRAP
15 Throwing the baseball with my little brother, Brian, and splashing us from the edge of the pool. The visits were infrequent and too brief. A walk around the yard was customary before they the drive back to the city. Of course, an armful of lilacs would be the ideal gift. Pausing in front of the lilacs, my grandmother stood shoulder height next to her son, my father. Both gazing upon the hedge of blooming lilacs. Roy steps forward with his ever present pocket knife to cut the best blooms for his mother.
While Roy gathered the cut lilacs, Cecelia dashed inside to prepare the ‘wet wrap’. A multi-layer protection. The bottom layer, a big sheet of white butcher paper. Next, a layer of aluminum foil. Finally, moistened paper towels ready for the freshly cut stems. Wrap the cut ends in the moistened paper towel and secure with foil. Then wrap the bundle with the butcher paper and secure the bouquet with twine. The mega purple bouquet, handled like a newborn baby, carried to the car. Nestling the lilac bouquet on her lap for the ride home, careful not to drip any water on the interior. Once home, she divided the bouquet amongst the kitchen, living room, and her dressing table. The wet wrap technique was a recurring for Cecelia. Anytime we’d drove to visit her mother and sister who lived “in the country”. The perfume filled the station wagon, not
16 Cecelia’s Creative Counsel: Overwhelmed by an overabundance of ideas? How do you narrow your choices (or focus)? In this picture, it is a matter of choosing the best idea at that moment. Knowing that there is an ‘infinity pool’ of ideas in which to return, again and again. Stimulate your ability to generate ideas and replenish, like the wall of lilacs. Additionally, don’t overlook the behind-the-scenes preparation to move your idea into reality. Layering one’s skills and materials to bring it to fruition. Finally, presenting your ‘gift’ to the world. It is a gift and should be shared, humbly and gratefully.
CECELIA’S GARDEN intoxicating. Enough to keep us subdued for the hour-long drive (or was it may have been father’s arched eyebrow glare). The wet wrap sparked my memory while working at a floral shop. I was preparing a lilac bouquet wet wrap for a customer. It was heartwarming to hear that the bouquet was for his mother. This wouldn’t drip on the seats for the drive from the city to suburbia.