Re: OT-Flower Thief

Madamflwer@aol.com wrote:
> 
> John wanted to know more about my little flower thief so here goes:
> 
> About a month ago when I got home I was told that a little girl was picking
> my flowers.  I talked to this little girl and she promised me that she would
> not pick them again.  I told her that if everyone picked them there would be
> none left for anyone to enjoy.  Well, last night at dinner with a neighbor I
> was informed that the young juvenile delinquent was back on another crime
> spree of flower theft!  So I went to her home and approached her and told her
> what I had heard. At first she tried denying it and then fessed up. Her
> mother asked her why and she said "she just couldn't help herself".  Her
> mother told her that she would have to replace them.  The little girl didn't
> have any money so I said I needed some help in my garden and that since she
> liked flowers so much she might want to come help me out and I would teach
> her more.  They all agreed and so the little girl came down and cut dead
> flower stalks, weeded, and helped to put down 17 bags of mulch.  Her eyes
> were as big as saucers when she saw my backyard with the water garden.  I
> discussed with her that people need to respect other's property and at the
> end of the work we all had a creamsicle pop.  She wants to come back and help
> plant some more flowers!
> 
> Maybe I have turned a kid from a life of crime to a life of gardening
> pleasure.
> 
> Sylvia
> 
> p.s. I also think she wanted some attention and believe me she got that for 1
> 1/2 hours!


Good for you Sylvia!  About 6 years ago, I caught an adult snitching my
stalks.  I pitched a fit and practically threatened to call the cops.
The next day, she and her 7 year old son were at my front door with an
iris plant she had growing in her yard.  It was unnamed, but pretty, so
I kept it.  She also volunteered to help me in my yard as a way of
apoligizing.  I took her up on it, and as a reward for her son being so
willing & cooperative, I gave him some bloom stalks to take to his
teacher the next day.

Now, I have around 20 to 30 children coming every spring to volunteer to
help, in exchange for stalks.  They have to wait until after show times,
but then, that's usually just before Mother's Day.  

I believe that because of this sharing, I never have any problems with
any of the neighborhood kids, or their friends.  Believe me, being less
than 1/2 mile from 4 elementary schools, less than 1 mile from 2 junior
high schools, and less than 2 miles from one of the largest Senior High
Schools in Dallas, there could be all kinds of things going on.

Oh, I do have to "chain down" anything movable that goes in the front
yard, (Both backyard gates are locked at all times), because I live on
the corner of a six lane divided road, but, other than that, it's
peaceful.

Hopefully, your little friend will come back and enjoy your kinship
again.  I think the more attention we give the kids, the more they
respect us.  As the old saying goes " A little bit of kindness goes a
long way".

Hope to see ya in Dearborn!

Diana Winship
Richardson, Texas, where it's gorgeous outside today.
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