Did you notice? For a few days starting last Thursday afternoon, the area was just prettier and nicer. You see, it was the day the East Jefferson Rotarians distributed more than 500 dozen roses to the locals.

I started my deliveries with a dozen for Kim Redmond at the Tri-Area Community Center from the AARP Tax-Aide folks. At the time, Kim didn’t know that another dozen was coming from the Rotary Club. Then I was off to The Leader and The Printery, because Lloyd Mullen and Mike Kenna bought roses to put around the office. Dr. Steven Porter, the dentist in Port Ludlow, bought 20 dozen yellow roses for me to drop off at Dove House Advocacy Services. That created some real smiles.

Back in Port Ludlow, I headed to the Yacht Club because I had six deliveries to women who were having lunch with the Yacht Club Women. At the suggestion of Polly Peters, and with the help of Marilyn Hampton, I sold the extra five dozen I brought along. A word of advice: If you have something to sell, like roses, go to a women’s luncheon after they have had almost a full glass of wine. The enthusiasm they exhibited could lead me to feel like I was a member of the “Chippendales,” and we know those days are long over. (Were they ever not over?)

Tish Satre ordered a dozen for either her husband, Tom, or her mother-in-law, Barbara Griffin, so I gave them to Barbara, who answered the door. Either way, Tish is a hero. Also, in South Bay, I delivered a dozen to a buyer’s home where nobody was in. However, the front door was unlocked, so I just went in and put them in a glass of water in the sink. Name withheld for obvious reasons.

Bayside “barberess extraordinaire” Sonja Hathaway ordered a dozen for the delightful Julie Atterbury, who provided one of the highlights of my day with fun conversation. Steve Gross and I again bought a dozen for Peggy Schafran, in addition to a dozen for the ailing Patty Belmont.

More fun was had when I delivered to Linda Haskin, who bought two dozen from me and then discovered her husband, Roger, also bought a dozen from Terry Umbreit. It will be extra pretty in their house this weekend.

Mike Nilssen also participated in the “multiples program” by buying a dozen from both Terry and me. Some of these folks must have too many friends. Another delivery was nearly a failure until the buyer exited the bathroom and answered the door. Dick Durand ordered a dozen for his wife, Marilyn, but I forgot to take down the info. I had to scramble to recover from that faux pas.

You must realize by now that Rotarians like me may have had more fun than the folks who bought roses and supported our programs for scholarships and community improvement. We see old friends, make new friends and put smiles on some faces. Folks who buy the roses do so to enjoy the blooms for themselves or to give them to spouses or other loved ones.

Others buy them to give away and make another person’s day better. And some buy to participate in helping the community. Frankly, there is nothing wrong with this program! (Well, unless you consider the bucket of water holding eight dozen roses that fell over in the back of my car.)

I am reminded that Ralph Waldo Emerson told us, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week!

(Port Ludlow resident Ned Luce writes this column weekly. Got an idea for him? Contact him at nedluce@sbcglobal.net.)