Richland High School - Rebel Yearbook (Fort Worth, TX)

Page 19 text:

ouquets requlre ank rolling it ig business of mum making was my assignment, to get a behind the scene story. As I walked into-Ian's florist, I was in awe by the mass confusion. I began dodging people, stumbling over buckets of fresh white mums, backing into boxes and sticking my hands in glue. jan's florist opened 15 years ago in Mrs. jan Giles' fownerj mother's garage and has been go- ing ever since. It was one of the first florists in the area and has been arranging for weddings, funerals, proms, anniversaries, homecomings, and special occasions since 1968. However, since the area expanded, competi- tion grew as more florists came to the area and business declined somewhat. The economy has hurt us commented Mrs. Smith. just like all other things, the cost of making homecoming mums has increased, so jan's Florist has had to pass the cost on to their customers. The mum is a fairly expensive flower QB? I ll? A QM Zgg. V . rf , ft . few r 1 7. Q f -' 5-he . 4 5' I 3- t NJA 1 C we ,sf ' K I n iasfgitf. .. 1 - ' Q10-4 ..q,.. before luxuries are added such as streamers, cowbells and plastic footballs. jan's prices on mums began at 312.50 and range up to 385.00 for a fancy bouquet. The average amount spent on a mum is anywhere from 345.00 to 50.00. Mrs. Smith commented that the price of their mums has doubled in the last ten years. Around the middle of October, things started getting hectic around jan's. Orders for mums started pouring in from around the area. The normal fairly subdued atmosphere ofjan's was transformed into pandemonium. Many late hours were spent putting orders together. jan's Florist's served the area high schools but they received orders as far away as Lamar High School in Arlington. To encourage business and to arouse publici- ty,jan's Florist's gave the cheerleaders mums to wear at school and to advertise at football games several weeks before homecoming. Men really begin to feel the pinch around Homecoming time. Ordering a 350.00 mum, taking a date to dinner, buying tickets for the game and paying for various other expenses gets to be outrageously expensive. Although job scarcity, inflation and the in- creasing cost of some mums were all on the rise, most truly determined girls were able to snag a date and a mum, and the guys were always able to bank roll it. Andy Dodson The finished product, one of the more expensive mums complete with streamers, bells, ribbons, flags, and two mums, is displayed to customers. Photo by Andy Dodron. With many boxes of mums ready to be picked up, jan's florist was overwhelmed by orders from schools around the area. Photo by Andy Dodron. The delicate task of making a mum is demonstrated by Shelly Smith femployeej. Gluing the mum to the backing is one of the first steps of making a mum. Photo by Andy Dodxon. Mums 15

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i 'Q I . The evening was cool, and getting cold. The halftime score was 30-0 fwe were 303. Nominees were escorted onto the field as Shelly Bartula was named Homecoming Queen The juke box that had played country music in the foyer all week was nowhere to be found. All oftheir luster and magic. To some Homecoming meant saving money by doing without those little dime store window. Fleeting moments that can only be relived in the pages of old yearbool-cs. the hay, wagons and saloons were things of the past. Mums that had been flaunted a bit too much during the day were now losing a little- Three categories, traditional, comics or western were the choices to decorate each door with to participate in the door decorating contest sponsored by the Spirit Club. Denise Dorsey fjuniorj finishes Mrs, Eklund's door which won the traditional award. Photo by Doug Wallace Preparing to go into his second of three successive front handsprings, Travis Burgett fseniorj is a member of the gymnastics team. The team gave an added performance at the pep rally. luxuries in life, like eating. Some felt it most when Friday came and they had ended up without a mum. A few in- sistent non- believers were suddenly Con- vinced during halftime when six glowing girls in evening wear were paraded onto the field to be displayed like jewelry in a Seven members of the foot- ball team were chosen to take part in a skit. They were blind- folded and told that they were going to be kissed by the nominees for Homecoming Queen but instead received them from their mothers. The Homecoming Court for 1982 is Robin Harrison, Rhon- da Climer,-jennifer Cox, Shelly Bartula, jackie Smith and Margo Hernandez fseniorsj. a precious time shared only by the students. Couples snuggled together and awaited the end of the game, as they fcontinued on page 195 Homecoming 17