Dream Come True

It is just so pretty.

When I was a girl, I saw an ice cream soda made of flowers. It was a dainty bouquet in an ice cream soda glass, the whipped cream on top made of white carnations and the cherry a red or pink rosebud. There may have been a tall straw or spoon, too.

Of course, I never wished to be sick, and I think I saw this at a hospital or maybe somehow got the idea that this would be something sent to someone's bedside. I really don't know. Or maybe I saw it at Jones Florist on Washington Avenue, which was right near my grandparents' apartment in Dumont. I stopped in there often and bought a single flower or two for my mom, and for my grandma, choosing and writing out one of those little florist cards for each. I spent under $1 on each--it was all I had--but I felt so proud.

So guess what? My doorbell rings at about 7 last night, and there's a man standing there on the stoop in the freezing cold, holding a birthday cake.

Is this fourteen Nassau Road? he said.

Yes. Yes,  this is fourteen. Sugar was trying to run out the crack in the door.

Alice Hurley?


Yes. 


He handed me the cake and a box of tiny candles.

It took me a second to realize it was made of flowers. I couldn't believe it. A big, beautiful cake made of flowers!

It is green oasis, completely iced with fragrant white mums, trimmed with a swag of pretty pink carnations, with a gorgeous closed pink rose in the middle, and three pink satiny bows for decoration.

The card says Happy Big Birthday! With love from your fans, Don, MaryAnne & Dad [for those of you who don't know, my Sis's real name is MaryAnne].

I just walk around admiring it. I bury my nose in it every time I go by. It is so, so pretty.

Some dreams really do come true. This one from Ellen Palomo of Walter's Flowers in Nutley. [You do know Martha Stewart grew up in Nutley, right?]

P.S. Figgy's cake is delicious, the moist layers made with Valrhona cocoa and cinnamon, the frosting with melted chocolate and sour cream.