We buried my Grandfather last Friday. Drue, Owen and I closed the shop and drove to Midwest City, Oklahoma for the funeral. It was a change of pace for us. For Blue Bouquet, most every weekend holds a wedding or a party or some festive event. How strange to be traveling for a funeral.

Dean Carr, Sr., 76, of Spencer, OK, loving husband, father and good friend to all, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. He was born to Walter and Lois (Peterson) Carr on Dec. 17, 1931 in San Angelo, TX. Dean was an Air Force Veteran of the Korean War and retired from civil service at TAFB as a heat treater for aircraft parts. Grandpa’s obituary in the Oklahoman

I wasn’t as close to Grandpa as I wish I had been. In his younger years he was a hard man. He was the type of guy who worked hard all day, staid out all night and only said “I love you” when he was drunk. Thankfully his lifestyle caught up with him and nearly killed him. I say “thankfully” only because it didn’t kill him. It just put him in the hospital and gave him time to take a long hard look at himself. Grandpa changed.

The last fifteen years were good ones for Grandpa. Not so much work, not so much staying out all night, and though he was never drunk he said “I love you” all the time. “I love you” and “I’m proud of you” - that’s how he finished most every conversation. Last year was very successful for Blue Bouquet, but I’d trade all of the “congratulations” in the world for just one of Grandpa’s “I’m proud of you kids.”

When he died it seemed only appropriate that we do something to celebrate his life. We couldn’t bring ourselves to put together a funeral spray, though. We wanted something a little more personal, thus the sailboat.

Grandpa’s Boat

Grandpa loved the water. Back in his wild days he was a champion scuba diver and spear fisher. As he grew older, he staid on the surface in his boat. Grandpa sailed regularly and loved his American Sail 14.6 sloop. It seemed only appropriate that we commemorate his passing with a topiary version of his “ship”.

Our sailboat came together quite easily; some carnations, some mums, some hydrangea, a few orchids and a dowel rod from our basement storage was all it took. It traveled nicely as well, being sturdier than it looks.

Grandpa’s funeral, like all funerals, was strange. The family gathered to tell old stories, the church ladies made starchy foods, and I found myself thinking how beautiful and fragile life is. Maybe that’s why we like to have flowers at funerals. They are lovely, but transient, like us.

This weekend it’s a wedding for Blue Bouquet – some boutonnières and centerpieces of orchids will do the trick. I was happy to celebrate grandpa’s life and take part in his funeral. I wouldn’t have missed it. I even enjoyed making our little topiary sailboat for him. Still, we’ve no intention of expanding our offerings to sympathy flowers. There’s only one Grandpa and there will only be one sailboat. One funeral is plenty for now, thank you. Besides, weddings are much more enjoyable.