Today the flowers went to nursing homes in Germantown and Pennsburg and to the people in a mini-mart at a gas station. So much fun being The Flower Lady! 57 bouquets, smiles and looks of surprise.
Depression affects the whole family….what WHYY said after our radio interview
When someone in your family is depressed, it affects the WHOLE family. John and Patricia Gallagher will be sharing their story and their book “No More Secrets – A Family Speaks about Anxiety, Depression and Attempted Suicide.” Their mission is to help others. Inspiring, helpful and hopeful.
“I have been doing this radio show for 22 years and I don’t remember ever being so deeply touched by a family’s story. Your daughters are beautiful both inside and out.” Dr. Dan Gottlieb, Voices in the Family, WHYY Public Radio
Patricia,
I read your family’s book. Once I picked up, I couldn’t put it down. I cried through John’s story. Those of us who have not personally experienced depression, just can’t understand the experience. What a gift it was to all of us for John to be so honest. Your story and the stories of your children are also very moving. The love that has been the glue to hold your family together is truly amazing.
—- Evon L. Bergey, MSW, LCSW; Magellan Behavioral Health Services
Delivering flowers makes me a happy camper!
120 beautiful fall bouquets delivered today. To Shannondell for their Gratitude Gathering, to The Birches for their Tribute to Veterans party, to the front desk at Saint Mary’s Hospital so they could pass them out to everyone coming in and going out. So many tales of fun when you flower the day away!
Flowers went to voting polls and to senior communities today! Good old-fashioned fun.
Yesterday’s flowering adventures. Olive Garden parking lot, nursing home, random parking lots.
The flowers were a hit at the bank today!
Do you think I should bring flowers to the Doo-Wop/Oldies Dancers?
Publication2
Who got the flowers, pies and cranberry muffins today?
I had two boxes of donated goodies today. Who were the recipients of Trader Joe’s generosity? Bank tellers at Wells Fargo bank, a neighbor whose husband passed away two weeks ago, a toll booth collector, the people at a thrift shop in Montgomery County, my doctor and her staff…..thirty bouquets and lots of treats to sweeten the day for lots of people. Day is done. Going dancing tonight!
It is 3:44 pm and I still have 34 bouquets in my car!
I wonder where I will end up tonight to pass them out.
Here comes the flowers!
There were so many flowers waiting for me today at Trader Joe’s that I had to make two trips. At 9 am, I packed 50 beautiful bouquets from their loading dock to my car and took them to a rehab and nursing home in Malvern. Then back to Trader Joe’s at 11 am for another 50 bouquets and some potted Mums which I took to the people in the parking lot after the 12 o’clock Mass at Saint Isaac Jogue’s in Devon, PA. Then off to a nursing home in Norristown. I think that my flowers are a girl’s best friend – that girl is me. I love my daily Flowering Adventures.
What I learned today – “flowery blooms” bloom smiles for elderly
Sunday, October 19
You’ve been flowered!
For all of the Catholics out there, you probably remember how we were always encouraged to make “visits” to church. During the week. Today, I stopped in to Saint Isaac Jogue’s adoration chapel in Devon – open 24 hours a day. There was a young mother with four little girls praying and another lady kneeling in a pew by herself. I said a few prayers and then went out and got some of the flowers shown above. I went back in and just handed them each a beautiful bouquet. I did not say anything. Their mouths were wide open with shock and happiness. I don’t know why but I teared up when I got back in the car. For some reason, that was one of my happiest deliveries. And then I took 40 bouquets to Shannondell Assisted Living.
I love singin’ in the rain and bringing flowers!
Your flowers gave me hope today.
What do you say to a 89 year old lady from an eastern European country, Hungary I think, who tearfully says as you hand her flowers – “Nobody understands how lonely it is here. Without a family. You are so sweet to bring the flowers. During the war in 1943, my family was all taken. The day before Christmas that year, someone came to me and told me that I still had some family. It gave me hope. Your flowers gave me hope today.”
Did anybody know that I have a real job? (Other than the Happy Flower Day project?)
This is what keeps me from hanging on the corners of streets!
http://storiesforseniors.wordpress.com/life-enrichment-programs/
Flower Project – may be starting up in Massachusetts too!
Hello Patricia,
I was very inspired by your interview on the radio show a few weeks ago. I also work with angels and I am very interested in this project, because I want to bring this to my community too. My husband is a Deacon, and has been doing some communion calls at some assisted living places in the area. So I thought this is a way to begin the project and to spread this idea, to the community and parishes too. To encourage outreach for all in our area and surrounding towns. I would love to speak to you sometime about how you got started, and how I implement this project here.
Its funny I have a brother in the Philadelphia area, and I was just there for a family wedding this summer. Some of the nursing homes you have listed on your site, are some of the places we drove by. Feel free if you have some time to please call me. And if I am in the area, I will definitely let you know.
I look forward to receiving your Team of Angels pins.
Peg from Massachusetts
This is a sweet email to receive on a sunny Sunday!
Hi Patricia,
I edit a section called “Earning Their Wings” for Angels on Earth magazine, and we’d like to feature you in our Jan./Feb. issue. I would ghostwrite the story, and after my editors work their magic, would send you a draft for your approval. We’ll also pay you for your contribution.Does this sound good to you? It would only be a short piece, but we think what you do is so sweet. If you say ‘yes,’ I’ll send you a few questions or we can set up a time to chat on the phone, and then I’ll get to writing. I look forward to hearing from you!
Editorial Assistant Guideposts Magazine
Today – Capturing the Autumn Magic of delivering flowers to seniors
Team of Angels for Peace on Earth – Syria last night?
A long time ago, during whatever world conflict the USA was involved in, I wrote the poem – A Team of Angels for Peace on Earth. (2001)
I professionally printed 50,000 yellow laminated bookmarks bearing the poem. Actually, the bookmarks were printed by a company in Tennessee. The media got a hold of the project and told the story that if you sent Patricia Gallagher a self-addressed stamped envelope, that she would send 10 bookmarks to whomever requested them. And that is how they spread worldwide. Funny how things happen.
Peace on Earth
Let’s connect a team of angels
With all people here on Earth
To stop the crime, to end the wars
And feuding over turf
We’ll all pray “Angel Power”
As they beam forth gifts of love
To cheer the cause of Peace on Earth
For the Prince of Peace above.
Article that I wrote for the Bucks County Courier
This was an article that I wrote for the Bucks County Courier Times. Just cleaning up old files on my computer so before I deleted it forever, I thought someone might like to read it.