Beer

I went to the local Trader Joe's store the other day. There was a young woman looking through the trash when I went in, so I picked up a sandwich for her.

When I came back out of the store, she was sitting down with a little box asking for change and writing some thoughts in a notebook. We chatted for a bit, but I didn't ask her much, just let her talk and tell me about the book she was writing. And then she posed this question to me:

"Why isn't it okay for me to have an occasional beer?"

She mentioned that she had a little extra money and, as a treat, purchased herself a beer. Then she got yelled at and harassed by a man that didn't think she should have one.

I've been thinking on this ever since. Isn't it sad that we hold someone that's struggling to a higher standard than ourselves? Why do we do it? Is it just to make our situation feel better? Is it a way of feeling superior?

I'm conflicted too ... I don't want this young woman on the streets. I want her to want something different. But who am I to say she doesn't. We only chatted for a few minutes.

Spreading a little love

Some friends, Nancy and Dave, have a very ambitious project in process. They tore down a storage shed and are rebuilding it, better and larger. It is the final piece in an extensive backyard makeover. It got off to a later start this year than they had hoped, bringing it into the wet and rainy season.

Then Dave's 92-year-old mom, Ruth, broke her leg. She's in rehab, but they get a call and she's taken a turn for the worse. Back to the hospital; now back to rehab ... whew, she's doing much better!

But all of this puts the project even further behind. The weather report for the next two and half weeks is all about rain and wind. The project cannot continue without the cement being poured.

So we loan some wheelbarrows and Charlie spends a few hours spreading some love (in the form of wet cement) ... I of course, provide food, beverage, and moral support (and hang with the girlfriends)!

There is great hope that it dries out enough for the project to continue next weekend!

Tuna

This morning I was contemplating what to do for my good turn, and up popped a Facebook post from my friend Cyndi. Cyndi is very active in her church and they have a food pantry. She spotted a sale in the QFC weekly ad ... 10 foil packed packages of tuna for $10! She asked for help in restocking the shelves at the pantry.

So Cyndi, today is dedicated to you! I've got my 10 packages and will coordinate how to get them to you.

If you didn't know, Tuna is a very nutritious food that's very high in protein. These packs are easy to carry, easy to open, and produce less waste than cans ... so they make a great meal for someone living out on the streets on in their car.

So everyone, please stop by your local QFC and pick up 10 to donate today! If not to Trinity Lutheran Church in Everett, to your own local food pantry or food bank.

So I took the weekend off. It had been a busy and stressful week and I just needed some down time. There was time for some friends and some family; time for cooking and cleaning and laundry. I didn't check my email, and in fact I hardly looked at my phone or social media.

Monday is here and I am refreshed, ready to get back to the art of giving and moving my personal mission forward.

And as a bonus, the sun is shining! Good morning!!

Hugs

My husband gives the best hugs, hands down! But he also gets the blues in the darkness of fall and winter ... and he needs to be hugged.

So today if you see someone that needs a hug, please don't hesitate. It might help them to stand up taller and be able to face the day.

If the Shoe Fits ...

Today I want to talk about Charlie's most recent good turn. He's been helping a friend down size after her husband's death. It's been four years and she is ready to start letting go.

Michael had been quite a clothes horse. He had lots of them! Going through it all, sorting for donation to a shelter, donation to a thrift store, or the trash was a big job. Finally it was all done and Charlie offered to take the shelter donations to the mission in Everett (this filled up his car, there was so much).

Anyway, Charlie gets to the mission and the young man on duty helps him unload his car, he can't believe the quantity of clothes! After they were all done the young man sheepishly looks at Charlie, clears his throat and looks away. Then he does it again. Finally, he works up the nerve ... you wouldn't happen to know anyone that wears size 13 shoes would you? Evidently this man just joined a bowling league, but couldn't afford to purchase the bowling shoes in his size.

Charlie promises to see what he can do and puts out the call. Thankfully our network is extensive! Not long afterwards our friend Caitlyn responds that she'll put out the word to her bowling league ... and in just a couple of days, Ta Da ... big bowling shoes!

BIG Bowling Shoes

One Happy Bowler!

Caitlyn and Charlie

The Handoff