Adorned

Apparently I've got Andy Griffith on the brain these days, because I've recently been thinking about ANOTHER of my favorite episodes! It involves the simple, sweet gas station attendant, Gomer Pyle.  In this episode, Andy and Barney set up Gomer on a blind date with Thelma Lou's cousin, Mary Grace. Mary Grace isn't nearly as attractive as her pretty cousin, and since Gomer hasn't yet met her, he repeatedly asks Andy and Barney to describe her.  They simply reply, "She's nice!  She's real nice!"

The day of the dance arrives and the men show up at Thelma Lou's to pick up their dates.  Gomer and Mary Grace are introduced and everyone sits down to make uncomfortable small talk.  After only a few minutes, though, Gomer suddenly pops up, asks to be excused, and leaves.  Everyone is appalled!  Mary Grace fakes a headache and pleads with the others to go ahead to the dance without her.  They reluctantly comply.

A short while later, Gomer appears at Mary Grace's front door, holding a small box which he presents to her.  In it is a corsage.  Gomer explains that he noticed the other two girls were wearing them, but Mary Grace was not. He left to try and find an open florist's shop so he could purchase one for her.  "It wouldn't be right, Mary Grace," Gomer says, "for you to go to the dance unadorned."  It makes me cry EVERY time!!

Remember corsages? In my high school, there were three formal dances held each year: Homecoming Dance, Winter Formal, and Senior Prom.  I attended my share of them, and Alan was often my date.  My sisters and I had a fantastic time shopping for our gowns, picking out our jewelry, and choosing our hairstyle.  But the corsages were chosen and presented by our dates. We would tell the boys the color of our dresses, drop subtle hints about what kinds of flowers we liked, and they did the rest.  We were in charge of providing the boutonnieres for their suits.

I think the corsage may have been one of my favorite parts of the entire evening!  Alan had exquisite taste and provided me with just beautiful "adornments" for the dances, usually with roses, carnations, and baby's breath.

At homecoming, a group made and sold beautiful large white mum corsages.  In the center,  a green pipe cleaner bent into the shape of an "N" (for Nordonia High!) was inserted, and a delicate net cover held it all in place. We thought they were gorgeous.  We girls wore them to school that Friday, then to the football game that evening.  To this day, whenever I pass an arrangement of mums at the supermarket or garden center, I stick my nose deep into the center, inhaling the sweet scent that immediately takes me back to those glorious Fall days!

A few years back when Alan was the General Manager at a Bennigan's Restaurant, he employed a wonderful 40-something bartender.   Barb was as skilled at pouring drinks as she was at engaging with anyone who pulled up a barstool and wanted to chat. EVERYONE loved her!  On her birthday, Alan was going to have flowers delivered to the bar, but decided instead to have a corsage made for her. Barb LOVED it!  She joyfully pinned those colorful flowers to her polo shirt and fluffed and sniffed them all day.  When customers would ask about it, she'd happily reply, "It's my birthday!"

I miss corsages.  Who would have guessed that those simple little clusters of ribbons, carnations, roses and net could provoke such wonderful, fairy tale memories?  Memories of frilly gowns, high heels, heavily-sprayed Farrah hair, decorated gymnasiums, and slow dancing to songs by Styx and Journey.  Sigh!

Alan has generously presented me with several gorgeous flower arrangements over the years, from roses to lilies, tulips and daisies. They've all been breathtaking and I've sincerely treasured each one. But I don't think any flowers will ever be as lovely as those he attached to my wrist back in that decorated gym at Nordonia High School.  Actually, I think I'd give just about anything to be "adorned" once more!

Thanks for reading!!