MOST people, seeing that headline, might think: “Shouldn’t it be ‘My Ex-Friend Is Suing Me?’ ” But Rob Ingersoll will always be my friend. Recent events [“Why true marriage equality matters to us,” Opinion, Nov. 1] have complicated — but not changed — that fact for me.

I’ve been a florist in Richland for 30 years. You don’t work that long in a small town without getting to know your customers very well and counting many of them as friends. Rob and I hit it off from the beginning because, like me, he looks at flowers with an artist’s eye. We see not just potential bouquets, but how different combinations and just-right arrangements can bring a special beauty, memories and even a little humor to someone’s birthday, anniversary — or wedding.

That’s why I always liked bouncing off creative ideas with Rob for special events in his life. He understood the deep joy that comes from precisely capturing and celebrating the spirit of an occasion. For 10 years, we encouraged that artistry in each other.

Read the article “Why a Friend is Suing Me: The Arlene’s Flowers Story” on seattletimes.com.