"Almost as good..." a Poppy story

[CameronCat]

Today is Armistice or Remembrance Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US. For the past few years, I have made it a point to wear a UK style poppy on my vest, shirt, coat, whatever. Most folks in the US haven't a clue what the poppy means but that's another set of stories...

Last Sunday, I was visiting a family member at the hospital. I was walking through the lobby in my denim vest with the poppy on it and my mind on other things. A petite middle-aged woman, dressed to the nines, suddenly appeared in front of me--no idea where she was when I walked in.

She spoke with a polished accent but I couldn't tell if it was UK, S. African, Oz or other...

"That's a poppy, then! Are you English?"

Me, caught completely off guard: "No, Scots."

"Well, that's almost as good, isn't it?" ...and she click-clicked her heels off through the marble lobby.

I'm still not sure if I've been insulted or not! <wink>

[Kilted Magyar]

I foor one would like to see the poppy tradition revived in the US

[GrainReaper]

This year I have no poppy, I've been prowling around looking to donate and get a poppy like I do every year, but couldn't find any. I even stopped in the VFW hall. Not a poppy to be found.

Today, sadly have nothing over my heart but my hand

[Pleater]

When I was browsing the other day I found an image of the four petalled poppies the family used to get when I was quite young. Apparently they are the Scottish version, and the two petalled poppy with a leaf is the English version.

There is no one I could ask now, and it was 60 years ago anyway, but I can remember the box coming in the post, the archetype of parcels with string and brown paper folded around it, with sealing wax on the string and the poppies were packed inside in green tissue paper.

I have always had that image of the four petals, a black shiny centre and the green stalk, which jarred with those on sale, but I always thought I must be remembering it wrongly.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[CameronCat]

Those wishing a poppy may find this link helpful:
http://www.britishlegionusa.com/#!distributors/ce0

I got mine via a phone call (and then by mail) from the Best of British in Virginia.
Delightful folks and highly recommended. I would expect the other outlets to be the same.