The Freckles sisters came to me distressed. The Old Grey Goose was drooping and was not responding normally. She was not telling her usual funny stories of ditto machines, disco balls, and PEEPS treats. She didn't even want her normal Earl Gray tea today. I alerted the orchid medical team and we went to check on her. Her petals were drooping and she was very sleepy. We tried hydrating her with Evian water, but she didn't respond much.
We all knew what was coming. The Old Grey Goose was going into sleepy time. The Old Grey Goose has been around the Center for so long, that to not have her floraternal presence and wisdom was more than most of us at the center would bear. She was kind and cheery, and the keeper of orchid wisdom in her family tree. She knew that she would visit us again, that she would see another sunny day also as she had told many of the others "first time" sleepy timers. But now it was her turn to sleep. She did rouse herself for awhile, and we whispered in orchid tongue language about the great things she'd done to help others at the center. She had no regrets but one, she wished to visit the Royal Castle and greenhouses of Laeken in Brussels. I wished I could have put her on a plane that instant, but the best I could do was I pull out my laptop and search for a picture of the Royal Castle. I found the Castle online and it had a little video tour of the greenhouses. I showed her the video. She looked at me in gratitude then took one last look at the sun-- her fading friend--and closed her eyes for sleepy time.
The word spread quickly of her sleepy time, and we were all crying. The Lemon Sisters, quickly pulled themselves together like the true performers they were and sang a beautiful rendition of "Time to say Goodbye", by Sarah Brightman. Everyone was sad and went to bed early. The Orchid Center is quiet tonight as we remember our sweet floral friend.
Old Grey Goose 2011-2012
"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Annie
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| From ORCHID CHRONICLES |
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