Past Master

My Life Long Floral & Event Career

I had a conversation with a flower friend a few weeks back. I posed the question, “Do you call yourself a “veteran? It’s accurate, but it makes me sound (feel) old, and people these days, can be such ageists.”

I went to the dictionary and came up with some rather humorous alternatives like; well-heeled, grandmaster, virtuoso, battle-scarred, and hot shot. There were others like; pro, expert, seasoned, established, all are good, but not anything I’d say, as self deprecating midwesterner.

The term, “past master,” inspired a list of every place I’ve ever worked in my life long career. I counted 19 private clubs, 30 hotels, 18 museums, and about a dozen private venues and I’m I’m sure I’m forgetting some. That doesn’t include the list of churches, restaurants, and buildings like McCormick Place, Mart, and Navy Pier.

I have stories, lots of stories, most veterans do. I once repaired a horribly damaged centerpiece while carrying on a casual conversation with a mother of a bride. To this day, she had no idea that the caterer accidentally knocked over our cart, catapulting the flowers face first on the dance floor. It’s a good thing we were prepared with extra floral foam, and flowers. We were 180 miles outside of Chicago at the time. I’ve repaired countless wedding cakes with strategically placed flowers, and the carpet tape I keep In my toolbox, has kept a few bridesmaids in their dresses. I will never forget the time I rescued 250 stems of dahlias from the city impoundment after my vehicle was towed early one Saturday morning. I was back at the shop by 8am ready to design.

Doing flowers and events is more than just a flawless instagram feed. It’s 50% problem solving behind the scenes. I’ve learned over the years, to always be anticipate the worst. Flowers are an unpredictable, they don’t like the heat or the cold. There are climate issues, and shipping problems. Trucks breakdown, so do elevators, (thankfully, not while I was in it), and tables have been known to collapse. Being a veteran, chances are, I’ve experienced it before.

There’s an unspoken rule between us vendors, the client doesn’t need to know, until well after the party (if even). At the end of the day, we all have one mission, to make, (and execute) the event of our client’s dreams.

You gotta deliver, and I always have.