Oct 24 2011

Too close for comfort

Categories:

another day in paradise, couples, dating, friendships, frustrations, humor, husbands and wives, life, memories, musings, reflections, relationships, remembering things, silly me, some things you just can't make up..., unexpected, work

by Hilary

“Hilary, there are flowers for you here,” my office’s receptionist sung into the phone as she called me from our other location, which is about half a mile from where I work.

“Flowers? For me? There? That is so strange. Who are they from?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Come over and find out,” she happily answered.

“Alright,” I replied as I grabbed my car keys. “I will come over.” But, before I left my office I called back, suspicion got the better of me. “Are you sure there are flowers for me there? This isn’t some attempt just to get me over there, is it?”

I was able to hear her roll her eyes as she sighed and said, “No, there REALLY are flowers for you here.”

Now curious, I immediately headed over. As I drove, I wracked my brain thinking who would have ever sent me flowers. After all, I haven’t worked in that location for over four years. Anyone who would know me well enough to send flowers would know where I physically worked. As I parked my car, suddenly a scary thought, about who the sender could be, hit me. My ex-boyfriend, Fred who I haven’t spoken to or seen in ten years popped into my head. He knew where I worked, he knew my name was on the company website, and used to send me flowers there all the time when I got mad at him. I pushed the thought quickly away, because after all, while he didn’t take the breakup well initially, for ten years he has been out of my life.

When I got to the office, I didn’t even open the flowers, I immediately opened the envelope that was addressed to me with my current, married last name. Skipping the message, I just went to the bottom, and a chill ran down my spine. The card was signed Fred! “Oh my God, oh my God,” I started mumbling and shaking. The receptionist who called me was immediately at my side. “I was afraid of this,” I continued as I told her who I feared it would be, and explaining he was the only Fred I knew.

I read the card over and over. While it had a generic opening, it continued to say “I know you have been having a rough time, so I thought these would brighten your office.” This freaked me out even more! How did he know I was having a rough time?

“Calm down,” the receptionist told me as she handed me a glass of water. “Call the company and find out who sent you the flowers.”

I took her advice, but the girl I spoke to told me that unless they contact the sender they can’t release the information, which I obviously didn’t want to do. Panicked, I asked to speak to her manager, and when I did, I played up the situation, turning on the tears, and pretending that Fred staked me. The manager, again said he couldn’t release the senders name without speaking to him, but agreed if I gave him Fred’s full name, he would tell me if he did send the flowers.

“Fred Flinstone?” I asked.

“No,” he replied.

“Fred Barney?” I tried his first and middle name?

“No,” he replied again.

“Fred Rubble?” I asked using my maiden name.

Again, he said no. Now, I was out of guesses. He assured me that the sender paid with a credit card that matched his name, so chances are it wasn’t Fred Flintstone, unless he got a phony card, which was too farfetched even for me…. So, while I felt a little better, I didn’t want to take any chances. I decided to return the flowers, recipient unknown.

As the receptionist helped me pack up the flowers, a long time co-worker appeared. Curious, she asked who sent the flowers. “I don’t know!” I replied.

“What do you mean?” she countered.

I handed her the card, and she immediately spotted and recognized Fred’s name. “Huh?” she asked. “Could it be?”

“I have no clue, but I am sending them back.” I replied.

“Let me look at the card again,” she said. She read it carefully. “It’s not him,” she assured me. “Read it objectively. It is too generic and business based to be him. If it was him, he wouldn’t hide it. He would want to make sure there was no doubt that you knew it was him. I guarantee you this is someone that is soliciting your business. That is why they sent it here. This is the main address for the company. Think about it. Have you spoken to any solicitors recently?”

Of course my answer was yes. While I didn’t know who Fred could be, I knew my friend was right. I immediately felt better and calmer, although I still sent the flowers back. I headed back to my office and plowed through work, putting all thoughts of flowers behind me.

Later that night, I joined my husband, Marc, at a business dinner. Over coffee, Marc’s colleague turned to us and asked, “Do you get to the city much?”

Rather than answering yes or no, I dumbfounded screamed out “oh my God!” because thanks to those seven little words I knew who sent me the flowers! The sender, who I forgot was also named Fred, would always ask me the same question when we were on the phone. Fred was someone I hired to do a project for my office, which wasn’t going as anticipated, which was making things rough for me. I quickly realized that the flowers were his peace offering. Suddenly, the card made total sense.

Sure enough, I called Fred the next day and he confirmed he indeed sent the flowers, although he swore that he told the florist to include the company’s name on the card.

I am still shocked how a sentence could have put this puzzle together for me. Has any small thing triggered your mind making you realize a bigger issue or problem?

Tags: exboyfriends, flower deliveries, flowers, life, memories, musings, past relationships, putting pieces together, remembering, secret admirers, unexpected moments, way our minds work, words

34 comments

loretta rick

October 24, 2011 at 8:25 am (UTC -4)

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Yes, indeed. He would have used his real name.
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:02 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Loretta – I know you and my work friend are right, now… but at the moment, I was sure it was “that fred”
Brenda Youngerman

October 24, 2011 at 8:53 am (UTC -4)

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Interesting how bad memories are never too far from the surface!
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:03 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Brenda – you are right… you think the past is far, far behind you, but then it only takes a second for good or bad memories to return…
Tami

October 24, 2011 at 8:58 am (UTC -4)

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Sounds scary! I’ve been through the stalker thing so I know just how you must have felt.
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:06 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Tami – It was… It is amazing how many of us girls have experienced some form of a stalker in our life…
Kathy Radigan

October 24, 2011 at 9:04 am (UTC -4)

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I can only imagine how you must have panicked and then felt relief when you realized who the real sender was. It’s strange how our mind can pull out people from our past and then play such havoc on us. Sorry that you had to feel that way, but the good news is that it makes for a great post! Lol!!
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:14 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  kathy, thanks! It is so funny, after I finally calmed down, I thought just like you did… at least I had an good post to write… But, man, until I realized who the “real Fred” was I freaked. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that Fred knew where I was and what was going on with my life…. It made me realize just how vulnerable the internet can make us….
Brian

October 24, 2011 at 9:23 am (UTC -4)

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That is quite the story, but at least all was okay!
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:14 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Brian – thanks… I am glad it had a happy / uneventful ending
Stefanie

October 24, 2011 at 10:00 am (UTC -4)

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Glad you managed to figure out who sent you the flowers.

~Stopping by for ICLW #14
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:16 am (UTC -4)
  
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  Stefanie – me too… It would have driven me crazy if I didn’t…. I know me, I wouldn’t have been able to shake the feeling that Fred was aware of my life…
Debby Pucci

October 24, 2011 at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)

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This was so intense.
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:17 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Debby – Oh, I know… My heart was pounding in my chest for a long time afterwards that day…
Irene

October 24, 2011 at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)

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Fred needs to call the florist and have them resend the flowers without charge. They screwed up big time! I can understand your anxiety in this case. That would have put me over the edge as well.
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:19 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Irene – Fred did… and they resent them to my office… but, I wasn’t in that day, so I gave them to the receptionist… which I felt good about, considering she soooo helped me that day, by just being there, and returning the flowers for me…
Old Kitty

October 24, 2011 at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)

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How amazing!! Thank goodness for that chance comment – at least now you know who sent the flowers and why! Take care
x
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:19 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Old kitty – I know… If the guy at dinner didn’t say those few little words, i would still be uneasy that “my fred” somehow new about my current life..
My Inner Chick

October 24, 2011 at 5:35 pm (UTC -4)

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—I was getting all excited…

I thought you had a “secret admirer!”
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:20 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Inner chick – an admirer would have been cool – as long as the admirer wasn’t Fred….. UGH! the past needs to stay in the past
Abby

October 24, 2011 at 6:04 pm (UTC -4)

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OH my that was some little adventure!
So glad that it turned out to be harmless!!
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:21 am (UTC -4)
  
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  Abby – I know… What a close call…. My head knew that it wasn’t fred, but my heart wasn’t so sure…
silverneurotic

October 24, 2011 at 7:47 pm (UTC -4)

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I don’t think anything like that ever happened to me, but I think I’d totally freak out too, and assume that the flowers were from someone I’d rather not associate with anymore. That would totally creep you out. But at least you actually figured out who the mystery sender was.
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Silver – it is amazing how those few little words jogged my memory and calmed me down. It is pretty scary how easily we can freak ourselves out, especially if we feel like we are in a vulnerable possition. I wasn’t afraid of Fred, but I didn’t want Fred knowing about my current life…
Mr. Pip

October 24, 2011 at 9:57 pm (UTC -4)

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I am famous for jumping to conclusions and blowing things way out of proportion! I am glad it wasn’t your ex-Fred that would have been so creepy! Something similar happened to a co-worker of mine. I don’t think she ever did figure out who sent her the flowers.
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:27 am (UTC -4)
  
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  Kristen – you sound just like me…. I always overreact, and make myself crazy…Your poor co-worker… I would be so freaked if I didn’t figure out who sent me the flowers…
caren gittleman

October 24, 2011 at 11:43 pm (UTC -4)

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you had me on the edge of my seat for this one! I was sooo nervous!

Yes I have had a sentence jostle my memory but it is going on midnight and I am too tired to think of an incident…this was great!
1. Hilary
  
  October 25, 2011 at 7:24 am (UTC -4)
  
  Reply
  
  Caren – so was I! The one thing that this whole experience taught me is just how careful we have to be while online…. You just never know who can keep tabs on you…..
Cathy Kennedy

October 25, 2011 at 10:37 am (UTC -4)

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As Inspector Clouseau would say, “Case solve-ed!” =D

RTT: The Evil Tryant is Dead to Necco Candy to Colored Pencils to Christmas Cards
1. Hilary
  
  October 26, 2011 at 6:53 am (UTC -4)
  
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  Cathy – I done inspector clouseau proud!
beth

October 25, 2011 at 11:09 am (UTC -4)

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New Follower from Tuesday Train Blog Hop. Hoping you will follow back! =0)
My Crazy Life
1. Hilary
  
  October 26, 2011 at 6:53 am (UTC -4)
  
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  Beth – thanks! Can’t wait to check out your blog!
Donna

October 25, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)

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I have “AH HA” moments all the time ~ I figure it’s age

I also have a nasty ex-husband and I get nervous every time the front desk calls me ~ especially if its a visitor I wasn’t expecting. They know by now to have a name handy if they have a visitor for me or I ain’t coming!!!
1. Hilary
  
  October 26, 2011 at 6:56 am (UTC -4)
  
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  Donna – It is getting too near my birthday to want to think the ah-ha moments are age related, but I think you are right! I can understand totally how you wouldn’t come out for an unknown visitor… It must be scary. When I first broke up with Fred, he used to call the office and pretend to be other people – my favorite was my ex boss…. Fortunately, at the time, there were only about 15 people at my office as opposed to the 85 now, so after a while, everyone recognized his voice, and he tired of trying…