8 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020
for openers
Spreading Happiness with Flowers
A
llow me to
introduce my
fabulous cousin
Feiga Bowick, LLMSW. She’s
a geriatric social worker,
currently working as resident
service coordinator at the
Harriet and
Ben Teitel
Apartments, an
independent
senior living
community
(part of Jewish
Senior Life) in
Oak Park.
Every Wednesday
morning, this awesome
mom of five can be seen
dropping off her kids at
school and then driving
up to Trader Joe’s in Royal
Oak, where between 15
and 60+ gorgeous bouquets
of flowers are waiting for
her. Feiga fills up her trunk
with the donated flowers
and drives to work, first
delivering bouquets to the
residents who live at the
Coville Assisted Living and
Memory Care Apartments,
the Anna and Meyer Prentis
Apartments (independent
senior living) and then “her”
residents at Teitel.
In the almost four
years since she began this
program, thousands of
bouquets have been divided
and arranged by hundreds
of senior residents. Once
arranged into little vases,
the flowers go on every
tabletop space in the dining
and living areas, adding
charming pops of color
throughout the building and
being thoroughly enjoyed by
everyone who sees them.
Flower arranging
originally appealed to Feiga
because she realized that
every resident was able to
participate, regardless of
their cognitive or physical
limitations. One resident
was over 100 years old, and
blind — but even she was
exclaiming at the texture
and scent of the flowers.
Another had lost the ability
to speak, but was
still touching and
enjoying them.
“There’s
something about
flowers,” Feiga
mused. “When
I’m carrying
them, whoever I
pass automatically
smiles. People
can’t help it.
Flowers just make
people happy.”
Even just one flower can
do it! Recently one senior
resident bought a bouquet
of roses (“On sale for $2.99,”
he later told Feiga proudly!),
divided them up and gave
a single rose to each Teitel
staff worker with some
genuine words of thanks.
Feiga was so touched.
“It’s just knowing that
someone thought of me, that
someone appreciates me,”
she said.
All in all, Wednesdays
should be annoying for
Feiga — heading out of her
way, water spilling all over
her car, such a shlep, what
a hassle — but no, it’s her
favorite day of the week.
It helps that Trader Joe’s
has a reputation
for being all-
round awesome
(long live their
cherry chocolate
chip soy ice
cream!) — they
even make Feiga
feel like she’s
doing them a favor by taking
their leftover bouquets!
Which makes Feiga come
into work with her usual
big heart overflowing and
eager to make others feel
good, and these smiles and
good feelings continue to
spread all day, all week, from
resident to worker to visitor
to volunteer and around
the city, until the following
Wednesday when the fresh
batch of flowers arrives…
This brings her so much joy
because happiness, as we all
know, comes from giving.
“One thing I’ve learned
from being a social worker is
that people want to make an
impact,” Feiga said. “There
are so many amazing people
with such huge hearts.
Not everybody has to do a
humungous sweeping mind-
blowing act of kindness
every day. There are little
ways to give to others that
can literally change their
world. We have no idea
what’s going on in other
people’s lives and can never
know what difference even
just a genuine smile, with
eye contact, and a kind word
can make.”
It has not been an easy
year for anyone — from
trying to figure out how to
elbow bump friends from
6 feet apart to how to open
those plastic bags in the fruit
and vegetable aisle without
licking your finger, to say the
least — but the year is finally
ending.
Move over, COVID!
We’re ready for small acts
of kindness that keep on
spreading and making the
world a better and happier
place for everyone to go viral
now!
Happy, healthy 2021 to
everyone!
Rochel
Burstyn
VIEWS
Feiga Bowick