The Extra Mile
As I sit here typing this in the glow of my Christmas tree (the day before Thanksgiving), I find myself considering that we tend to think more about others this time of year. There are hundreds of worthy non-profits doing fundraising drives, Angel Trees everywhere, families in need who are being "adopted" for holiday meals and gifts, and on and on. I love it, because I think we are at our very best when we are outward-thinking. But what about every other day? It's certainly not a new thought. There are songs about making it "Christmas All Year Long." However, it really hit me yesterday, as I was typing up a letter. Remember our interviewee from last week? The one who talked about...
The Girl
I've been thinking about a girl. She works in the coffee shop in our building downtown, and I see her just about everyday. Sometimes I get coffee, sometimes hot tea, sometimes iced. No matter what I order, she remembers how I like it, and delivers a perfect cup into my hands every time. She has lovely eyes, big and brown, with really long eyelashes (read: false-looking, but not) that find me covetous. She smiles at everyone, warm and sincere, remembering their preferences, too. She always sends me off to start my day with a little spring in my step. And I do not know her name. I realized it as I went up in the elevator, holding my steaming cup. How many, MANY times has this lovely...
Homefires
It was cold yesterday. Still is, in fact, but yesterday we had intermittent sleet and rain, high winds, and various other winter nasties that made it a good day to be inside. Kevin built a nice fire for me to enjoy while I powered through some online holiday shopping (remember, Round One happens in a WEEK at our house!), and since he had some errands to run, he left a good-sized pile of wood for me to continue feeding it. And feed it, I did. In no time at all, I'd burned through that whole pile. Fortunately, there was more out on the back porch, so I ran out there and grabbed another big armful. Several hours later, when Kevin walked back in, he saw the pile was gone and said, "Wow,...
Perfect Imperfection
Last year, my parents surprised me with four Christmas albums from my youth. My love for music began very young, and its inclusion in the holiday season was one of my favorite things about that time of year. It still is, actually. I can listen to the same songs over and over and they never get old. Even though I was absolutely delighted with this gift, I didn't have a turntable on which to play them, and I didn't run out and buy one because it was the end of the season. So, they were carefully packed up and stored until this season. (Over the years, every single LP in our combined vinyl collection has disappeared. We have no idea what became of them, although I'm suspecting loss in...
Respite
I was blessed to get yesterday off and spend the day inside my warm house, decking its halls for an early Christmas with my immediate family, followed by a packed season of business and extended family festivities. As the winds literally howled outside, and the moisture froze on the branches like fine jewelry, I pulled out ornaments made by my children and grandchildren. I marveled as I hung the handiwork of old friends and remembered the fun occasions of their receipt. Stew simmered in the crock pot, filling the house with a warmth all its own, and Bing added his two cents for good measure. Looking out on the cold, gray sky and the grasses frozen in their blown-over state, I found...