Plastic Flowers

My neighbor's flowers in the front yard are in full bloom. In fact, they have been in full bloom for six consecutive months. They are remarkably resilient and have weathered snow, sleet, hail, thunderstorms and direct sunlight. Their various shades of white, yellow, blue and red are as vibrant today as yesteryear. They are literally indestructible.

My neighbor's flowers attract a lot of ridicule, derision, mockery, contempt, jeering, finger-pointing, disbelief, consternation, confusion, and laughter. The one thing they do not attract is bees.

My neighbor's flowers are sort of like a noxious "silent-but- deadly" at a wine tasting party. Every one detects it, yet no one publicly recognizes it. It's spoken about only afterwards, in privacy. Like a "silent-but- deadly", the flowers are not polarizing. They have not yet divided the neighborhood into opposing factions of critics and enthusiasts.

My neighbor's flowers are also greatly misunderstood. They are hypoallergenic. They represent stability in a constantly evolving world. They offer cheerful vibrant color on dark gloomy days. Most importantly, they are a reminder that life is not to be taken too seriously.