For the good writer energy

There is a tiny flower shop on rue Bernard in the Mile End neighbourhood of Montréal that has bird cages hanging above it.

They’re all white and always empty.

And I don’t know why.

I always get so caught up in the experience of creating a bouquet with the woman who owns the shop, I forget to ask her about them.

Because the visit is about the flowers.

And the energy.

When I know I’m going to be home for a couple of weeks, I’ll pay her a weekend visit.

I always tell her what one or two types of flowers I’d like, or the colours I’m feeling drawn to, and let her build the bouquet.

Before she begins, she looks at me directly in the eyes for a moment, nods slowly and says, “yes, for the good energy”, and gets started.

It doesn’t matter what’s in the bouquet or how big it is, the price is always the same, $25.

And it’s always perfect.

This time she added in small, pale purple daisies to celebrate women’s day.

And she thanked me for supporting her as a woman small business owner.

I told her it was my pleasure and privilege because I love her and her shop, and that I’m a woman small business owner too: a facilitator, a gatherer, a writer.

She smiled, gave me a hug, and handed me my flowers and said, “for the good writer energy”.