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I
rarely design flowers for weddings anymore, but when I was informed that the granddaughter
of a close friend was getting married in June, I immediately offered to do the wedding
flowers and was thrilled when the bride agreed. David’s
reaction was a bit more subdued. “You’re
kidding” he said, “Don’t we have enough to do”? “Don’t be silly” I replied,
“This is going to be fun. The wedding is
going to be held in a barn on the family ranch in Montana.
We can test some new flower suppliers, I have some new design techniques that I
want to try out, and I’ll get to wear my new cowgirl boots. We’ll have to buy you a cowboy hat”. David remained silent. He just raised an eyebrow, smiled and gave me that
look he always gets when he realizes that he is committed to my adventure, no matter how
crazy it might be. |
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And, the trip did turn into a wonderful
adventure. The family ranch lay just outside
of Fort Benton, Montana and the easiest way to get there from Portland was by train. David and I loaded our luggage and four boxes of
flowers onto the Amtrak Empire Builder bound for Havre Montana. I do love to travel by train. I love to relax with a glass of wine and watch the
scenery roll by, I love being able to enjoy a delicious steak dinner, with real linens,
china, crystal and silverware including a sharp knife, and I never sleep better than I do
on the train.
David had found a car dealership in Havre and made arrangements to rent a car for the
week. He called the dealership as soon as we
arrived and within minutes a driver showed up with the biggest SUV I have ever seen. The driver helped load our luggage and flowers into
what I thought was a shuttle bus and then began to explain to David about the
super-suspension, the high axle clearance and how to use the winch and special four wheel
drive system. “Is this what you
rented,” I exclaimed, “why didn’t you get a car”? “Somehow, I think we’re going to need
it”, was all he said. I silently worried,
“What does he know that I don’t”. The
two hour drive to Fort Benton was easy and uneventful on a wide beautiful highway. I began to relax.
As we rolled into town I started kidding my husband about his “cowboy
truck”. |
