Orchids - A True Story by Marisa Angelis

As time passed I learnt about many other species of flowers and plants, but I always had a special liking and love for Orchids.
Occasionally through life, I would reflect on that happy moment of holding that beautiful delicate flower and remember it like yesterday, as I photographed it with my then pocket sized manual film camera.
The colour was amazing and much better than the photographically captured photo.

Around me, no one that I knew had Orchids and I hardly ever saw any in floristries.

Years went by and destiny took me to Canada where after a very long time, almost a life time, I reunited with my now late Godfather.

We travelled to farms and met farmers who grew and sold organic fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.
My late Godfather, like myself was a fastidious cook who took care, even for when it came down to fresh produce for his restaurant.
We exchanged recipes and as I looked through my late Godfathers' generous collection of cookbooks, I came across a recipe book by Sophia Loren!
From this book and combined with a Greek recipe, he would make an all seasons vegetable stew that never changed in flavour.

The Canadian summer climate most probably the air pressure seemed to bloat me and I felt that it lacked in moisture/ humidity.
All of my late Godfather's guests use to feel the same regardless of what part of the world they came from; Greece, Australia, America, China etc

One day we were looking around and inside his newly built house and all that he had indoors were two bay leaf plants/ trees that had grown and were ready for planting. Unfortunately they were not very healthy.
We tried everything to get them healthy again but the climate was not good for them.

My late Godfather felt that something was missing; something natural, nature, so one day, he decided that he would look for and search to find floral plants of some sought, but didn't know what to look for.
He just wasn't sure... Then suddenly I remembered the joy that I had when I experienced the Orchids back in Singapore!

So, I mentioned Orchids. I had never mentioned Orchids to anyone before in my entire life.

I described them to my late Godfather and went on to explain how they come in many various colours, how they are delicate and almost 'human like' and so beautiful.
He liked the description and idea, so he contacted a florist that he knew and to my inkling, the flowers would probably not survive as being a very sensitive species, in the Canadian climate and particularly in the environment in which my late Godfather wanted to place them.
After this, he decided to stick with his apple trees, vine and tomatoes that his friend and employee was looking after.

After my stay and some years later in Australia, sadly my Godfather passed.

Some months after his passing, it was summer and a scorching day. I went for a stroll through my late Godfather's first old Adelaide, Australia neighbourhood.
As I strolled through, on my way back to the car park there was an office premises that had a step and on the step was an off white in colour vase with a bouquet of Orchids!
The Orchids were left abandoned and they were waiting for me!

As I looked at them and waited to see if anyone would return to claim them, I turned around and looked onto the busy street and at that moment, a certain car, my late Godfather and I shared a passion for cars, photography and animals drove passed with my Godfather's name on the number plate!