WORKING -- REID SHIGENO

HE IS

Delivering flowers to your Valentine

FLOWER POWERWith Valentine’s Day around the corner, many husbands

and boyfriends have already put in their orders at local flower shops,

hoping to see a smile on the face of their special someone. Mixed

bouquets and the ever-popular roses are being prepared for the

sweethearts’ holiday, and Reid Shigeno is the man to deliver.

Shigeno is expecting to drive all over the county Monday to ensure

beloved lovers receive their flowers. He has been working for Accent

Florist in Fountain Valley for more than a year.

“The job’s not too stressful, except for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s

Day,” he said.

On Valentine’s Day, the Fountain Valley resident will help to deliver 250

orders -- quite a leap from the usual 15 deliveries a day.

“It’s pretty hectic. The store is full of flowers,” Shigeno said.

During these two busy holidays, the store hires extra workers to help

with deliveries. Still, Shigeno will work a long, long day Monday. He

plans to arrive at the store at 6 a.m. and will head out for his first

delivery an hour later. His final drop-off will come around 8 p.m.

ROAD RAGE

While he’s out driving around with a car full of flowers, Shigeno listens

to the radio to pass the time. Occasionally, he’ll talk on his cellular

phone.

Although he said he has never experienced road rage, he has seen a lot of

it on the job.

“I see people yelling at each other,” he said. “It’s funny.”

With all the driving he has to do, he has been in just one fender bender.

And even that one wasn’t his fault, he said.

It’s not just on the road that he has seen some rage. He has seen it in

the shop, too. One man once entered the store and asked to use the phone.

“He was on the phone, yelling at someone for a half hour,” he recalled.

FAVORITE FLOWERS

Red and pink roses are some of the more popular flowers with the store’s

customers.

“They can be hard to get because everybody wants them,” he said.

His favorites, however, are tulips and sunflowers.

While everyone else will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Monday,

Shigeno said he’ll probably celebrate it a day early or a day late

because of his work load. Shigeno said he’s not sure how he will

celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, but whatever he does, it will

include flowers.

FROM FLOWERS TO ELECTRONICS

The 22-year-old enjoys the job’s flexibility because it fits in with his

class schedule. Shigeno attends Cal State Long Beach, majoring in

electrical engineering.

He has no career goals set yet, except “to get a job after graduation.”

Shigeno’s days as a delivery man may be numbered. He is considering

applying for internships at electrical engineering firms around the

county.

Outside of work and school, Shigeno isn’t left with much free time. When

he can, he likes to play a game of basketball and hang out with friends.