edible orchid

yesterday, i attended a library conference lunch and workshop. when my lunch selection arrived (a giant slab of lasagna and half a stalk of broccoli-steamed) there was an edible orchid on the plate. everyone had one. i didn’t see anyone eat one. the room was full of people and everyone had an orchid. it’s amazing how much that little flower made the whole meal feel infinitely more fancy (and what must that have cost?!) than say…a sprig of parsley would have. i chose instead to tuck my flower into the pin on the back of my name tag. despite losing one petal during the workshop, it survived the rest of the day pretty well. and it made me smile each time i looked at it.