See - people are good...

My son and I recently went shopping at several different stores. After spending several hours, and dollars, we were getting ready to head home when there was a sudden outburst, "my wallet, do you have my wallet Ma?" Ah, my genius son, who can be a little flakey, had lost his wallet. He had $50, a movie gift card, his learners permit - and probably a condom in there. It was no where to be found. We checked the car, went to every store we had visited, retraced our steps, checked dressing rooms and left his number with every cashier that would talk to him. Nothing. He swore he was pick-pocketed - surely it was TAKEN FROM him - not lost BY HIM.

Funny, the learning process, he actually thought I might replace his $50 dollars - yes, after we had spend several hundred on him! Life lessons, responsibility - they have got to learn. He was so angry, at the stranger "who had his things" and in fairness, at himself for being clumsy with his own belongs.

A few days had past and he asked about looking into another permit from the DMV. I suggested he go online to look into it and we would get it taken care of when time allowed. As he was turning the computer on my younger teen came running in, "a package came in the mail for Ryan!" He raced over, excited, maybe somebody randomly decided to send him paintball items from Craig's List. Nope - it wasn't junk mail - that's right, it was his wallet with a little note: "Ryan, I found this in the Kolh's parking lot over the weekend and wanted to make sure you got it back. Please call me and let me know that you received it."

WOW - that was the last thing we expected! Somebody did the right thing! Ryan had actually laughed at me when I had suggested that MAYBE - maybe somebody would return it.
He was so happy and surpised.
I felt such gratitude for this, not only because my son had gotten his wallet, and all of the items in it back, but because this had taught him something he would proabably remember forever. He was on the receiving end of a stranger showing a random act of kindness. This had turned his doubtful mind from all the negtive things that could have happened to his wallet into something fantastic... the wheels were turning - would he return a wallet if he had found one? Well - if I knew he found it he would have... but NOW - I wouldn't have to know, he WOULD do this same thing for somebody else now without question.
Thank you stranger, Cheryl, for teaching my son this valuable life lesson - and doing the right thing!

Socially awkward

Can you recall a time when you said something so ridiculously off base or completely inappropriate? Something that triggers a feeling of embarrassment, humility or stupidity? You know, and right after that moment, for at least a split second, you didn't hear anything else other than your own voice shouting "What the hell were you thinking? Why would you say something like that!" You may have acknowledged the poor merit of your comment, laughed uncontrollably, or excused yourself from the group pending the ears your remark has tainted.

You may have even heard a friend, acquaintance or family member blurt out their demise and have felt uncomfortable for them..?

There are those, and may be I am talking about you right here and now, that just have the tremendous misfortune of never hearing that little voice. Nothing echos through their hollow heads asking where the rock is that they can go hide under. You must know this person - maybe a distant cousin, "friend" of a friend, fellow church goer - surely a co-worker - every office has at least one socially awkward person. This is the person you want to feel bad for and you want to let them know what was "off" or inappropriate, but you can't because they just won't get it, or they will get suspicious of you for even telling them.

I have thought a person who is unaware of this social awkwardness and inappropriate behavior or commenting should be pitied... so many will talk behind their back. But I am beginning to think we who realize and are aware are in fact the ones who have the handicap. The socially awkward do not know.... there is no feeling of remorse, wrong doing, poor humor - they just live in their own ignorance and perhaps bliss of putting what ever they want out there and never seeking that rock to crawl under.

Aware or unaware - which is the way to be?

Can you become unaware if you all ready are in the know?

Lost in the Crowd

We all get lost in the crowd sometimes, intentionally, accidentally, perhaps even by necessity. Just a tiny little speck mixed in motion with the others like a leafy tree swaying in spring breeze.
It's my time to be lost in the crowd. I will have to find myself again before I can get back up on "stage".

Day dreaming...

Is it time to hop out of the gerbil wheel?
Not 5 just yet... but getting there!

Trying not to stare out at those blue sunny skies for too long!

Feels great not to have plans for this evening - a bunch of nothingness - somebody prescribe me some CLARITY for the head, no pill necessary just sit back, relax and stare at those clouds. Blue skies ahead!! CURED!

New Day

Heading out on this beautiful day. Plan to stop and breath the air in, feel the sunshine hit my face and get in that car to head to work. Thankful for the job - BUT - so glad Friday has arrived! Something fantastic is headed this way....