• It's been 10 years since I was laid off from the bank, plus 2 years since I lost my job: no one has ever done me such a huge favor. Thank you, Alfonso!
• Ten years ago, plus 1.8 years, I fulfilled one of my childhood dreams: I took a flower arranging course with Kenneth Turner in London. I've taken a few since then. No one compares to him.
• Ten years ago, plus 1.7 years, I received my first flower order at my small home workshop. I set up the workshop so I could fulfill that first order. I didn't even have any flowers. I had to make do.
• 10 years + 1.7 years ago I created my first Limited Company.
• It's been 10 years + 0.6 years since I found out I was expecting Angelica. No one has ever surpassed, nor will anyone ever surpass, such a gift.
Ten years ago, my husband told me he was moving into a rented shop in the square where we lived (it was either the flowers or him!!!) because he couldn't stand being at home anymore with buckets of flowers and boxes everywhere. I felt bad for him… so I moved in. And we're still here!
• Exactly 10 years ago I opened my store at 10 Gabriel Lobo Street.
• Exactly 10 years ago minus one day, they put up scaffolding in front of the store building's facade (;-) –it almost gave me a heart attack-
• Ten years minus six months ago, Angie was born. It was the first Sunday in May, Mother's Day. Nobody was with me at the hospital. Everyone (my husband, my wife, my father, my sisters) was out selling endless flowers in my shop. My husband managed to escape in time; the others didn't.
• Ten years, less six months, and two days ago, I left the hospital with Angie. My husband couldn't pick me up. He was organizing an event for a client. It involved hundreds of red tulips (a luxury cosmetics brand whose corporate image is red: anyone?). We never got paid for them. –Don't do silly things like this: don't let a client stop you from being with your family during important moments. Never. It's not worth it.
It's been 10 years minus 8 months since I left the shop unattended (I had no employees then) to baptize my daughter. The guilt was unbearable. Don't do it either. The world didn't end, and I'm still selling flowers.
It's been 10 years minus 8 months since I hired my first employee. I still remember the dizzying feeling. Carmen, I learned so much from you. And above all, I met those who are now my hands and feet: the Montoyas. Thank you, Carmeli! The four of us, along with Habibi and my Santa, accomplished great things.
And after 10 years… here I am, still fighting. Christmas is just around the corner. It's been 10 years of a tough but rewarding learning experience. I could have saved myself a lot if I'd known what I was getting into, if I'd prepared myself for it. Ignorance is bliss, as they say, but I've been incredibly lucky to meet wonderful people over these years. People I've been able to learn from, and people who have wanted to learn with me, people who help me and want to continue helping me. This final push is for all of you. Let's see how it goes!
XXX, S.