Making much of something small

Esther on her favorite perch: the outside window sill

The other day as I was buying a few things Goodwill, I commented to Barb (the woman who is almost always at the cash register) that I really appreciated her friendly way with people, and she said, “There are lots of folks who come in here that need a little cheerin’ up and I do my best!” You can see that Barb has had a tough life herself, and yet she makes the effort every day to reach out to others. Before she actually got to check me out, it was time for her to go on her break, so as she gave instructions to the woman taking over the register, she pointed at me and said, “Make sure this one gets the senior discount”.

If she only knew how much this startles me (and not in that happy a way!) every time I realize (that other people realize) I am in the, “eligible for senior discount” category. I just had to smile at the sweetness of this gesture, laugh a little at myself and my still-intact vanity, and say thank you.

There are just so many things in life to smile at!

Bounty

by Robyn Sarah

Make much of something small.
The pouring-out of tea,
a drying flower’s shadow on the wall
from last week’s sad bouquet.
A fact: it isn’t summer any more.

Say that December sun
is pitiless, but crystalline
and strikes like a bell.
Say it plays colours like a glockenspiel.
It shows the dust as well,

the elemental sediment
your broom has missed,
and lights each grain of sugar spilled
upon the tabletop, beside
pistachio shells, peel of a clementine.

Slippers and morning papers on the floor,
and wafts of iron heat from rumbling radiators,
can this be all? No, look — here comes the cat,
with one ear inside out.
Make much of something small.

(Thank you Susan A. for sending me this poem yesterday!)

“Bounty” by Robyn Sarah, from A Day’s Grace. © The Porcupine’s Quill, 2002.

 

 

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a dumb move?

My new cactus plant in my office window...for now

For most of my life, I’ve said, “I’m not good with plants” and this has become a self-fulfilling prophesy.  The 2 that did really well, and grew to be almost tree-like, were a jade plant and a rosemary, both of which I gave away when I left Vermont 11 years ago to go work in a mission. Over the past few weeks, friends have offered me both a jade plant and a rosemary, and I really wanted them so I said yes. I was not always aware that our words create our realities. Saying, “I’m no good with plants” was, in my mind, simply telling the truth, stating a fact. I know better now and realized that I needed to start talking and thinking differently about this area of my life if I wanted it to change.

I was walking through the farmer’s market on Sunday and the plant person had this really big (about 3 feet tall) cactus for sale. I loved the look of it, have always liked cactus plants, and it was only $30, so I bought it, and thought, “I am going to change my belief that I am not good with plants. I am going to learn about plants, take care of them well and have a beautiful variety.” I felt very happy with my purchase.

A man helped the plant lady carry my cactus to the car, but it was heavy and part of it was sticking out. As they were trying to get onto the floor of the front seat, I grabbed the stem that was stuck on the outside of the car, and felt sharp, painful little pricks. I was in shock. I couldn’t really see what was going on but it felt like I had been stung by nettles. Once the cactus was inside and the car door closed, I drove about 10 feet and pulled over so I could put my glasses on and look at my hand. It was covered in little yellow hair-like spikes.

I felt dumb. Who doesn’t know not to grab a cactus plant? Me. I had tweezers in the car, and sat in the parking lot, for a while, pulling the thorns out. I suddenly didn’t feel that good about my purchase. I didn’t know what to do. My head started in. Why did I buy this plant that I know nothing about? I am terrible with plants. What am I going to do with it? How am I even going to get it out of my car? I can’t take it home and have it around the cats and Luke. If they touch it, they’ll get spiked too. I won’t be able to keep it when we move to Maine. The woman said that it will have to be re-potted in 3 to 4 years, how could I do that if I can’t even touch it? Can the spikes be removed?…..I was on a roll and it wasn’t good.

Finally I drove to Jack’s shop and he said, “I’ll grab some gloves and bring it up to your office”. I agreed to Jack’s temporary plan, since I could not see an alternative, and knew that I couldn’t drive around with it in the front seat of my car indefinitely. I wasn’t wild about looking at, what at the time felt like a “mistake” every time I entered my office, but I needed a solution and had none at the moment.

It has only been 2 days but I feel differently about this experience now, I’m even a little excited to see what will come of this.

There is so much value in sharing our “screw-ups” with loving friends. I think it would be fun and helpful to hear about other’s experiences too; what things you have done that seemed dumb at the time, but something good came from it, or you learned a valuable lesson (even if that was to laugh at yourself). So if this sounds like fun to you, let’s hear it!

“I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge”. Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

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Bringing light to the world

Jon, the creative chef!

Jack and I were talking with our friends yesterday morning and somehow the topic of Jon’s hat came up. I thought he was kidding (that he had a Mickey Mouse wizard’s hat) but realized that, not only did he own one, but he actually wore it at times. When we arrived for dinner last night Jon greeted us wearing it…I LOVED this….I love it when people show the funny sides of themselves;  parts that I was not aware of. Being willing to risk looking silly to make someone smile,  taking ourselves less seriously, lightening up to bring light to the world…what a gift this is to us all.

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cell phones and laughter

Pretending I know how to use this!

3  days ago I was thinking about whether or not to get a cell phone and took the leap later that day, called Verizon and ordered one. This still feels like a very big deal to me, never having owned (and only occassionally borrowed)  a cell phone before. It arrived on Wed. morning. I am pretty good at reading manuals but this did not come with one. It did have a 2 page insert on how to activate the phone so I began going through the steps… it wasn’t working. I started saying to myself out loud (when I felt anxiety building), “This is going to be wonderful Mary. There is no need to worry. All is well.”  I talk to myself frequently when I need to re-center. Often I’ll just say, “You are doing a really good job. I am proud of you!” …something I would say to a little child.

After about 1/2 hour of trying, my phone automatically dialed Verizon customer service. A very sweet girl (I realize she must have technically been a woman but she sounded like she was 15 so risking political incorrectness, I must call her a girl), answered and tried to help me. We went through all sorts of steps and then she told me to dial *228 and push a few buttons. I tried it, nothing happened. Tried again, and again and then I heard something strange…like giggling…it got louder and my little friend from Verizon said, in between her giggles, “Ms. Muncil, you have to …giggle, giggle, giggle, hang up the phone (giggle) first”. She could not stop herself…it reminded me of being in high school (or church) where you were not supposed to laugh but couldn’t help yourself.

She was laughing at me!  I said, “I am very glad that you are having a good time.” and she said, “You have made my day much more fun Ms. Muncil.” I’ve never experienced this before. I’ve gotten patient, impatient, bored, nice, kind, disgusted, and friendly customer service representatives to help me over the years, but never one that could not stop laughing at my technical challenges. It was absolutely wonderful….makes me smile to re-tell it!

P.S. I still do not know how to use my cell phone. I am going to Albany today to the Apple store to take a class…I hope the people there are as much fun!

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