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Home » Family Articles » The Sentimental Meaning Of Flowers

The Sentimental Meaning Of Flowers

For me certain types of flowers bring back a flood of memories. I remember in my early teens visiting my best friend who had moved to the country. We would spend hours in the field next to her property, talking and picking the petals of daisies in a game played by many, he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not.

This memory can rushing back two days ago when I was waiting in line at the supermarket and happened to glance at the bouquets for sale. Amongst the mixed bouquets, there were daisies. This flower has special meaning in my heart. I associate it with my best friend who I lost to a car accident when we were both 17.

Flowers definitely bring an emotional response and we remember our happy and sad times through them.

The first time I inhaled the sweet fragrance of a carnation I was enthralled. It happened when my father, took us to Greece to visit his parents. As a 7 year old, this strange land captivated me. I vividly remember my first response when we made our way up the hill where my grandparents' house was, to find myself staring up at the handing grapes from the porch roof and the carnations which were planted along the edge of the porch.

Blood red, I can still recall their sweet aroma. They were the pride and joy of my grandmother who nurtured them and allowed me to help care for them. I had been instantly impressed by this glorious flower, not having seen it before.

If you are a woman, most of your flower memories may be romantic ones. Can you recall the first time you received flowers? Or the time when you were impressed the most with your date's thoughtfulness?

The first time I received flowers was at the early stages of the internet. I loved meeting and chatting with people from around the world and one such person was Rowan from London. We hit it off right away and till this day have remained good friends.

I was at work when a courier came in with a gigantic bouquet of flowers. When the receptionist came into my office to usher me to the reception not for a minute did I think they were for me. But they were. The gesture was so unexpected, so thoughtful, it will remain in my heart forever.

What are your flower memories?

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Substantially Equal Payments Relief

If you initiated early distributions from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in the last couple of years using a Substantially Equal Payment plan, your annual distribution amount may be more than your current account balance can bear. You may think there is nothing you can do to alter your distribution amount and slow down the depletion of your IRA account. This is not true. The IRS now permits you to make a one-time, permanent reduction to your annual distribution amount.

The primary purpose of an IRA is to accumulate assets for retirement. Therefore, distributions taken before age 59 ½ are subject to a 10% premature distribution penalty, unless an exception applies. One such exception is a Substantially Equal Payment plan, which as you know is subject to several requirements. For example, your may not stop or otherwise modify your distributions until the longer of five years or until you reach age 59 ½.

Under your Substantially Equal Payment plan, your distribution amount was probably calculated using one of three IRS approved methods: annuity, amortization or life expectancy. The annuity and amortization methods are used more often because they produce the large distribution amounts that are easily matched to income needs.

Both the amortization and annuity methods have a fixed annual distribution amount. It is calculated once - at the beginning of your payment stream â€" and the annual distribution amount may not be modified. This is what distinguishes the amortization and annuity methods from the life expectancy method. If you are using one of these methods and your account balance experiences a significant decline, you may be running a substantial risk of depleting your entire account.

The annual distribution amount for the life expectancy method is recalculated annually based on your current age and account balance. If you have experienced a significant decline in your account balance because of the current economic conditions, your annual distribution amount will be automatically adjusted downward. This flexibility ensures that distributions continue at a rate your current account balance is capable of sustaining.

If you are currently using the annuity or amortization method, the IRS now permits you to make a one-time, permanent switch to the life expectancy method so that you may reduce your annual distribution amount. For example, assume you were a 54-year-old individual taking distributions under the annuity method of $49,460 each year. If you elect make the switch, your distribution amount for the current year would be reduced to $14,234. This is a significant reduction.

In evaluating whether to make this switch, you must consider many issues. For example, you must weigh the effect of continuing your current distribution stream against taking a reduced annual distribution amount. You must also consider the timing of the switch. Not everyone will be able to make the switch for the 2005 tax year. Before you make the one-time, permanent switch, please discuss these and other relevant issues with your financial advisor or tax professional.