Did all the prep work for the evening shifts dinner. Turkey and all the fixins. I'm bushed!
A couple of times recently I have just said in passing to a nicely dressed or coiffed lady I meet in the grocery aisle that her hair really looks nice or that's a pretty outfit, and they have given me a nice, surprised-looking smile in return.
Wednesday I participated in a new program in town where people donate their unused musical instruments to be refurbished and furnished to school kids who have no access to their own. I had been carrying my flute around for more years than I care to admit -- it was new when I learned in junior high, and I played in the high school marching band. I never did like playing the flute and still change the station when those dreaded flute concertos come on. I liked playing the school-owned piccolo better (especially Sousa marches). But I digress.
Addie said:And when I was in the fifth grade, I wanted to play the flute. Remember how the flute harmonizes with the soprano on the high notes? Well I always wanted to do that. But they needed a second trumpet player in the school band. So I got stuck with the trumplet. And besides my sister played the trumpet and the French horn. They figured she could work with me. My younges took up the trumpet and later graduated to the tuba. I donated his trumpet to the school also.
Ah...the trumpet. I played in school, and because of that I was able to play a two valve bugle in the D&B in basic training. I still have my original horn, and could never get rid of it. My son played it for a few years until we could afford to get him his own. Then we would sometimes play together! Thanks for the memories.
I would say that my neighbour coming to plow the driveway was a random act of kindness EXCEPT he hunted deer on the back 40 (didn't get one), and the other trade for access (if he didn't get a deer back there), was that he'd plow in exchange for the privilege. But, I still appreciated it.
I had fun the other day with a RAK. We had a good snowfall Thursday night and I get out of work 1/2 hour or more before some other folks. Now I don't know half of the people at work because the turnover rate is so high but just for the heck of it I cleaned off my vehicle and while it was warming up I picked a car from the handicapped spaces and cleaned it off too. I sure hope it helped someone. I know I sure enjoyed thinking about the surprise they would get after a long boring shift at work.
Day is done ... Gone the sun ....
I grew up on military installations, and married an Army man. Once we lived right across from the flag-pole. I just loved the bugle calls. I remember once I was walking home from work, and could hear a neighbor behind me with her two little ones. I could almost feel ESP, her thinking, please let Claire do the right thing. Sure enough, taps sounded and I (as I always would), stopped and faced the flag, hand on heart, and stopped for that few minutes. Later she told me how she appreciated her kids seeing that the right thing to do at taps is not to duck into the nearest shelter so you don't have to show some respect.
Addie said:That is a real sore spot with me. No matter where I am, if the flag is passing, I stop and place my hand over my heart. I have shamed total strangers and told them to place there hand over their heart when I am at a parade. I don't care if it is a grown person or just a kid. Last summer I noticed that an abandoned school still had the flag over the front door. No one had bother to take it down when they closed the school. I called and sent a letter to the local newspaper, my representatives, City Hall, and anyone else I could think off. The flag was in tatters, and half of it was missing. We have a resident here in this building that was at Iwo Jima. We have buried so many of our young people all over the world defending that flag. The least we can do is take proper care of our flag and show it respect. Within a week the flag was down.
When I lived in Everett, if I saw a flag at a park or on a city building that needed to be replaced, I immediately called public works and threw a hissy fit. It got so that every time I saw a flag in need of care, and I called, I would hear as soon as I said my name, "Okay, where is the flag." After about a year, I noticed that my phones calls were no longer needed. Mission accomplished.
Claire said:Addie, this has become a huge sore spot with us. I've even written columns about it. My husband will go to city hall about it. If the flag is piss-yellow, pink, and stone-washed-denim blue, with a fringe caused by being beaten up by the weather, you are NOT showing pride when you fly it, it is a symbol of your own shame. If it looks like something you wouldn't use as a dishrag in your kitchen, shame. Once upon a time, you put the flag up at dawn, took it down at dusk. Then it became OK to leave it up 24/7 as long as there's a light on it. But now no one seems to bother to look up at their own darned flag. If it's a rag rather than a flag, take it down, fold it up, bring it to your local VFW or similar organization to be retired, an buy a new one, or better yet, if you have no pride, then just don't fly one at all!
RAK's are great I do them when I see the need. NEVER for the "Thank Yous"
Most recent was at the market....paying for my stuff, using my card and the computer goes down. I tell the gal "Don't worry......take your time, I don't get upset over stuff like this" She thanked me for not yelling at her or being mad and making her job that much harder or more thankless.
I ALWAYS over-tip the waitstaff when I eat out. Talk about a thankless job!
Best RAK I have done to date ......... At a chinese take-out joint, I am paying for my food and a young kid {13-14} was in trying to get his food he ordered 2 qts of egg foo young sauce but didn't have enough money. His Mom came in and started yelling at him "Well just get one then!!!", this poor kid was MORTIFIED. I leaned over and handed the clerk the extra money he needed said "SHHHHHH just give him the second one" and walked out.
Lately I've been brushing cars off. If I get out of work first, I brush off everyone's vehicles. When its so freaking cold out, I know how much I'D appreciate not having to stand in the cold.