Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

October 10, 2007

Bloggy Question 66: If I Gave You a Yellow Rose

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 10:21 pm

A Beautiful Yellow Rose

Yellow Rose

If I gave you a yellow rose,
for no special reason,
and I asked you what you were thinking.
What would you say?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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56 Comments to “Bloggy Question 66: If I Gave You a Yellow Rose”

  1. October 10th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
    SunnySchlenger said

    I’d say that you stumbled into my garden today.
    The roses are blooming wildly, and yellow was always my mom’s favorite.
    Thank you for “sending” a message from her!

  2. October 10th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Sunny!
    Wow! That is so spectacular! Your mom was one really cool lady. I’m so smiling now. :)

  3. October 11th, 2007 at 12:56 am
    Steve Roesler said

    I’d say, “Ah, you must be Liz!”

  4. October 11th, 2007 at 1:46 am
    Ellen said

    I’d be delighted! Delighted by receiving something so beautiful for no special reason from you.. Deligthed by the joy of cherishing a rose, a sign of elegance, beauty and hope…

    And I’d be delighted by being reminded once again what a difference such a small, but sweet gesture can make to someone..

    thanks Liz!

  5. October 11th, 2007 at 2:23 am
    Tim said

    I’d be to touched for words. I’ve never been given a flower.

  6. October 11th, 2007 at 2:31 am
    Alina Popescu said

    I wouldn’t be thinking actually, I’d be to mesmerized by the rose :P I guess I’d think of it as one of the greatest and coolest gestures :) My colleague Silviana has this habit: she buys flowers on her way to work and shares them with me and another colleague for no reason. It brightens our desks and generally makes our day wonderful.

  7. October 11th, 2007 at 4:14 am
    Joanna Young said

    Thank you, I guess :-)

    Oh, you are good at getting us thinking. I was saying to myself, I can’t think of anything else clever to say, I can’t just leave it at thank you, I’ll go away and do something else.

    Which I think is quite often what people do, if they can’t think of anything of ‘value’ to add, and leave without making a comment at all.

    Forgetting that “hello” and “thankyou” is enough to warm the heart of the person who’s left us the rose.

    I hope :-)

    Joanna

  8. October 11th, 2007 at 4:40 am
    Karin H. said

    I would say: hmm, is it Spring again ?

    Karin H.

  9. October 11th, 2007 at 5:01 am
    ME Strauss said

    Ah Steve!
    Thank you! You’d know me from the day we walked, and I gave you rock from the side of the road. :)

  10. October 11th, 2007 at 5:03 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Ellen!
    Isn’t that magic of flowers?!! And sometimes a single one can say in a whisper what a whole crowd of people couldn’t say in a roar.

    Flowers are the real deal. :)

  11. October 11th, 2007 at 5:10 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Tim,
    One year for Valentine’s Day, we bought my mother-in-law a teddy bear. It was beautiful, and it had blue eyes like hers. But it wasn’t nearly as stunning as the realization of what the gift meant when we heard a 70-something woman say that she had never had a teddy bear in her life.

    I wish you many, many flowers in every form.

  12. October 11th, 2007 at 5:16 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Alina!
    I didn’t discover the joy of flowers, not really, until I was grown. Then I wanted to grow them everywhere I looked. I decided I would have fresh flowers on my desk every day, and I did for a long, long while.

    Then I had them out my window for even longer. My flowers now are made mostly of silk. http://lettingmebe.blogspot.com/search?q=fresh+flowers

  13. October 11th, 2007 at 5:28 am
    ME Strauss said

    Joanna,
    Your heart is so wonderfully other. You’re a role model to us all.

    Isn’t it amazing that those two words, “thank you” are so powerful that we feel overwhelmed by them? I so know what you mean.

    If I say “thank you,” will they know that I mean it deeply? If I say just those words, will they hear my deep-feeling heart? How do I let a person who has touched me so know that my whole being has become one giant “thank you” when the writer in me knows more words only makes it less?

    What I’ve learned is to tell the truth.
    Thank you from all that I am and all that I know.

    Thank you, Joanna, for caring to leave that comment. Thank you for the person you are.
    Liz

  14. October 11th, 2007 at 5:31 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Karin!
    You know that I’ll do what I can to rearrange the world and the seasons. I just can’t stand to walk in a straight line too long!

    [big grin]

  15. October 11th, 2007 at 5:33 am
    Karin H. said

    ;-)

    The thought came to me because here we seem to have an ‘Indian Summer’ spell
    It’s sometimes even warmer this week than most of the summer has been!
    So, we and the seasons are a bit ‘confused’ anyway

    Karin H.

  16. October 11th, 2007 at 5:35 am
    ME Strauss said

    Yeah!
    Luckily for the world, the seasons aren’t nearly as confused as often as I am. :)

    It’s a little chilly in Chicago this morning. I can’t wait until the sun rises over the lake. Then I’ll pretend it’s Indian summer here too. :)

  17. October 11th, 2007 at 6:40 am
    Alex Shalman - Personal Development said

    I would think… “Wow, Liz cares! … but I already knew that ;) “

  18. October 11th, 2007 at 6:44 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Alex!
    You betcha! I care. :)

  19. October 11th, 2007 at 6:56 am
    Anna said

    I would think that just like an October morning, the color of that rose is too good to be true. And yet, it’s true. Wonderful blessings.

  20. October 11th, 2007 at 7:20 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Anna!
    Yea! It’s lovely, isn’t it?!!

    I think that about nature often. Maybe that’s why it takes away my stress. :)

  21. October 11th, 2007 at 8:36 am
    Rick Cockrum said

    If you gave me a yellow rose
    And asked what I was thinking
    I would plant it in my garden
    Near water softly singing
    And as each year the blooms returned
    I would pluck them, all but one
    And send each out to those who sing
    Of friends and gentle thinking

  22. October 11th, 2007 at 8:39 am
    ME Strauss said

    Aw, Rick,
    I gave you a thought of a rose, and you gave back poetry. How cool is that?!!!

    Thank you!

  23. October 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
    Rick Cockrum said

    It was just the thought I needed to get me out the morning’s funk.

    Thank You!

  24. October 11th, 2007 at 8:54 am
    ME Strauss said

    Isn’t it a wonder how we can be just what each other needs?!!

  25. October 11th, 2007 at 9:41 am
    Mike said

    Thank you, Liz.

    A yellow rose puts me in the mind of Texas, and all my friends there. It’s lovely there this time of year (as you well know). How fun it would be for all of us to be there together, perhaps on the patio of The Oasis…or forming a flash mob in Bob Hruzek’s front yard!

    Cheers,

    Mike

  26. October 11th, 2007 at 9:43 am
    Mike said

    Now there’s a potential caper: blog comment flash mobs! Hmm…

  27. October 11th, 2007 at 9:44 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey, Mike,
    Could we do both? Could we? Could we?

    Aw c’mon . . . You know it would be so cool.

  28. October 11th, 2007 at 9:46 am
    ME Strauss said

    oooohhhh!
    I’m very much liking the sound of that! :)

  29. October 11th, 2007 at 9:48 am
    Mike said

    Yeah, Liz; that idea felt exciting. Now when might we try something like that?

  30. October 11th, 2007 at 9:49 am
    ME Strauss said

    Well, Mike,
    Don’t we have to get some way of telling the other kids first?

  31. October 11th, 2007 at 9:58 am
    Mike said

    Yes, that would be step one. Can I think of any natural opportunity to collect a dozen or more bloggers in near-real time to get the ball rolling…

    …nope…

    Suddenly dawn breaks over Marblehead! “Eureka!”, he exclaims.

  32. October 11th, 2007 at 9:59 am
    Mike said

    I told you giving me more time might allow me to come up with something better…

  33. October 11th, 2007 at 10:01 am
    ME Strauss said

    Oh the Great Caper gets bigger.
    I have call in a minute, but I’m with you after that!!!

    Can’t wait to hear about your “experience design.”

    Too Cool!!!

  34. October 11th, 2007 at 10:07 am
    Mike said

    Sounds like fun!

  35. October 11th, 2007 at 10:31 am
    easywriter said

    I would thank you for the rose, thinking “what a wonderful “Liz” thing to do”, enjoy it for a time, breathe in its scent, bask in the lovliness of the flower and the generosity of the giver, then offer it as a gift to some sad-eyed stranger passing by.

  36. October 11th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Easy!
    I would see you do that and I’d think, “What a wonderful ‘Ruth’ thing to do.” How you always pass the good things on. :)

  37. October 11th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
    Robyn said

    Liz, I’d be thinking of my Dad who loved yellow roses. I cannot see one without seeing him. Amazing how we make connections.

  38. October 11th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Robyn,
    I so love these connections. It’s a lovely thing to meet your dad in the color of a rose.

  39. October 11th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
    Brad Shorr said

    I’d say, here is someone who is thoughtful, unpredictable, and mysterious. Someone I’d like to know better.

  40. October 11th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Brad!
    What a lovely thing to say! How cool is that?!!

  41. October 11th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
    Joanna Young said

    Hiya again Liz

    I just had to come back and say what a treat it’s been reading the conversation in this comment box today.

    You really do know such lovely and funny people - and know how to bring out the best in us :-)

    Joanna

  42. October 11th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
    ME Strauss said

    I know, Joanna.
    This one is really special, isn’t it? :)

    It’s the magic of one yellow rose and some folks who think beautiful thoughts.

  43. October 11th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
    Phil Gerbyshak said

    I’d say, “How’d you know my favorite color is yellow?”

    I’d probably also say “Ouch. I just pricked myself with a thorn. Dang it I’m clumsy!” That would be the second thing.

    And then, I’d give you a BIG HUG, and say “Thanks Liz. You rock!”

  44. October 11th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Phil!
    You made such wonderful images. I could see the whole thing happening! I’m smiling to thing of it. Thank you.

  45. October 11th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
    Phil Gerbyshak said

    You’re welcome Liz. Thanks for the rose. Dang, that hurt. I shouldn’t try to lick roses. Bad idea!

  46. October 11th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
    Robert Hruzek said

    A yellow rose?

    For me?

    Why me?

    What did I do?

    I’m afraid to take it.

    I’ve nothing for you.

    I’d feel obligated.

    Maybe even indebted.

    Or…

    Just maybe…

    You just blessed me?

    Thank you!

  47. October 11th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Phil,
    A band-aid won’t stick to your tongue!
    How are you going to explain that to your family? Oh I forget . . . they probably take such things in stride. :)

  48. October 11th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Robert!
    You’ve already done so many things . . . You’ve nothing to worry about. :)

  49. October 11th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
    Aruni said

    If you gave me a yellow rose,
    for no special reason,
    and you asked me what I was thinking.
    I would say:

    Thank your for giving me such a beautiful symbol of friendship. How lucky I must be to have such a thoughtful friend.

    I would give you a hug, then inhale the roses perfume before trimming the stem and sticking it in a long stemmed vase and placing it next to my computer. I would then periodically look at it and smile. :-)

  50. October 11th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Aruni!
    Welcome. How wonderful to see you!

    That’s lovely. I’d take the hug. You bet I would! Then I’d walk away smiling and thinking about the yellow rose by your computer. :)

  51. October 12th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
    jeff Brown said

    Not a dang thing - except maybe, ‘What’s the purpose?’

    Literally, I wouldn’t be thinking anything.

  52. October 12th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Jeff,
    Are you sure you wouldn’t get to “Why the heck is she giving me this flower? What am I supposed to do with it now? It’s just going to die.” :)

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