Backup plans are important; at work, in life and especially in marriage. As I wrote nearly a year ago, the lack of a backup plan nearly cost me my marriage, figuratively, not literally.

In 2009, I booked a wedding shoot forgetting it was my anniversary. My wife had stuck a card in my camera bag I didn’t find until it was too late. It was a cold reception when I arrived home just before midnight on our anniversary to find the card. I realized at that moment, I needed a backup plan.

The first thing I did when I got to work Monday was call Kelley Roberts, at Flowers By Shirley, and order flowers to be delivered to her at Bowling Green High School each day for the rest of the week. I had them increase the bouquet each day, culminating in a stunning arrangement of the same kind of flowers she had the church decorate at our wedding. Yes, I had to do some digging to figure out they were Calla Lilies.

When I heard the news that Flowers By Shirley is closing its doors March 29 after nearly 50 years, I panicked. My backup plan was going away. I dispatched Don Sergent and Grace Ramey to write a story and take photos for the Daily News on the longtime local business that has helped so many folks celebrate, make memories and keep some fools, like me, out of trouble.

Kelley, Stacey and Shirley were always good to me in my time of need. Holiday after holiday I would come in at the very last minute out of breath and begging for a beautiful arrangement to be sent to Tracy that moment. Finally, Kelley started checking in with me a fews days before special occasions and holidays to make sure I remembered. I’m sure it was more to make it easier for them and not to have to scramble to fill my requests. They backed me up and made me look good. That’s what local businesses do, take care of their own.

My relationship with Kelley and Shirley expanded beyond just being my floral backup. It started years before as a photographer for the newspaper. I knew on Valentine’s Day I could always make a great photo of thousands of colorful roses overflowing in the store or find a feature photo of something happening on a slow day. Besides the flower shop, I shot a lot of photos of Kelley’s son, Mason, a standout baseball player and athlete at Bowling Green High School. I would talk to Kelly and Mason at the games and always make sure to thank them for keeping me out of trouble with the missus.

But the photo that really stands out to me is of Shirley sweeping off the sidewalk in front of a “Pray for Peace” sign at her store right after the horrific Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. We were all trying to make sense of what we witnessed in real time in the days after the attacks. Clinton Lewis, Miranda Pederson and I went out searching for photos of our community coping with the tragedy. I nearly wrecked as I was driving by and saw Shirley in front of the sign she had put up in front of her business on Broadway Avenue.

After I shot a few frames, we stood and talked about what happened and how in shock we both were. It was a comforting conversation for me that put me a little more at ease as I was still rushing around trying to document the local reaction to that terrible day. I will never forget that calming conversation with Shirley nearly 23 years ago.

The privilege of documenting the community and later having long-standing relationships with those folks is one of the best things about this job. The tougher thing to see is change, losing local businesses that have been there for us. All is not lost though, as Bowling Green, Warren County and the region continue to flourish and new businesses are popping up. I hope they have the staying power and commitment to local residents as Shirley, Kelley and Stacey had.

Now, about that backup plan, my first call Monday will be to Deemer Floral Co. to find out if they will keep me out of trouble beginning with my 32nd wedding anniversary on April 25.

– Daily News General Manager Joe Imel can be reached at (270) 783-3273 or via email at joe.imel@bgdailynews.com.