Let's just get along

We enjoy attending the Virginia Tech Lady Hokies Basketball games. Admittedly, it's not as much fun now as it used to be a couple years ago when Liz Kitley, Cayla King, and Georgia Amoore were on the court, but as Bobby says, "You can't be fair-weather fans."

Sunday afternoon we watched Duke trounce VT, 72 to 54. The afternoon wasn't a total loss, though, because I got an idea for this week's post.

A young college aged man sat next to me. He was with another young man and a man and woman who appeared to be parents of one or the other or both if the young men were brothers. The parents were sporting Hokie attire, so I knew they were rooting with us.

The first time I noticed anything different about the young man seated beside me was when the Duke team left the court after warm-ups and he clapped quietly. I glanced to the other end of the court where the VT players were still shooting because I thought someone must have made an amazing shot to get his attention during the pregame warm-ups.

The game started, Duke got the tipoff, and he clapped softly again. This guy must not be paying much attention to the game, I thought to myself, he's not even clapping at the right time. It didn't take me much longer to realize that it wasn't him who wasn't paying attention, it was me.

He continued to clap, very politely like he was at a piano recital rather than a ballgame, throughout the first two quarters. When he returned to his seat after making a trip to the concession stand during halftime, I noticed the "Duke Women's Basketball" t-shirt he was wearing.

We played horribly during the third quarter and didn't make much improvement in the fourth. A typical fan for the opposing team might have gotten a little louder, a little prouder, a little more obnoxious as his team took a commanding lead, but he did not. He continued to be a most gentlemanly young man showing support for his team and respect for us.

I couldn't help but think how much nicer the world would be if his courtesy was the norm. What if everyone reacted with such grace when discussing politics? Plenty of people on both sides of the aisle could learn a lot from this unassuming Duke fan. What if we all responded with the peace and kindness that he showed at Cassell Coliseum when someone cuts us off in traffic or steals the parking spot we've waited for from us?

Even his interactions with the young man beside him were indicators of how polite he is. They quietly shared information with one another from their phones. Even though I was right beside him I did not overhear their conversation. Talking quietly is quickly becoming a lost art, don't you think? I'm often amazed at the loud conversations people have in restaurants or while waiting in line at the bank or grocery store.

It's a good time of the year to work on our manners and think about how we affect those people who are near us. Even the smallest acts of kindness and courtesy can make a positive impact on those around us. I realize I'm 'preaching to the choir' here, because I know you all are extremely kind and courteous people, but a little reminder never hurts, right?

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. " - Saint Basil

Deidra, Kim, Clara

Christmas is coming. Let's not miss any of the wonder of a baby born in a manger and all that birth means for us!

And Happy Birthday Deidra!

A kid's Christmas

This week's post was going to be about decluttering, but we will have to wait until next week, or maybe the next, to see what I have to say about that.

After texting with a childhood friend the other day, I realized we could all probably use a good dose of the way Christmas used to be when we were kids.

"Let's try to relax and enjoy December the way we did when we were young and all the stress and hustle bustle didn't really affect us at all. Here's to being a kid again!" I wrote after we had exchanged a few texts about some of the challenges we are facing.

I think I have become a little preoccupied with all the things that "need" to be done before December 25, and also with the changes that inevitably come as the years go by. A thread of wanting to make this Christmas really special has been weaving its way through my mind since before Thanksgiving. I think I need to remind myself that Christmas is special, not because of anything I do or don't do, but because Jesus came to earth as a baby and made a way for us to be with Him now and forever.

I started asking myself what December was like when I was little, and I'm still thinking a lot about that. The most stressful (though I didn't have that word in my vocabulary back then) thing was learning my lines for the church Christmas play and hoping I would do okay in the performance. Even that wasn't a very big deal because each play part was very small, usually suited to our age at the time, and Dorothy Jean would be sitting on the front pew ready to help us if we got scared or forgot our lines.

Buying or making gifts for people wasn't stressful. It was fun. I learned early in life the pure pleasure of giving a gift. We grew up with the example of Mom often picking something up from the store to take to someone, so of course Christmas was a time when she gave many gifts to others. What a delight to walk through the old Leggett store at Gables looking for just the right gift for a teacher, friend or family member.

The decorations back then weren't nearly as elaborate as they are these days, but their impact was greater somehow. The big old-fashioned Christmas bulbs on trees and around doorways were not elegant like the glistening white lights of today, but they were so magical. Christmas trees weren't perfectly decorated with matching ornaments. Red and green chains made from construction paper or popcorn strung on lengths of heavy thread and homemade ornaments adorned the trees along with, a sometimes way too heavy-handed, array of silver tinsel.

Clara, Kim, and Pee Wee

The food wasn't Southern Living worthy, but it was delicious and extra special because it truly was made with love not with a desire to impress. There wasn't an endless selection of cookies and candy, but I'd take what was there over the beautiful offerings of today.

We didn't expect toys from Santa that cost hundreds of dollars and we didn't expect piles and piles of gifts. Our Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, Light Brights, Easy Bake Ovens, Etch A Sketches, dolls, and stuffed animals brought months, even years of entertainment and delight. We weren't always looking for the next better thing. We enjoyed what we had.

Deidra on Christmas morning

I guess Christmas has always been about God's love and that He sent "His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." All the rest really should, in some small way, honor and echo that love.

Let's look for the simple pleasures and focus on the Big meaning of Christmas this year.

Starbucks doesn't serve turkey subs

but maybe they should.

Several years ago, a very funny thing happened to me. Actually, I should say I did a very funny thing, and I can't shake the feeling that maybe it will give some of you a good laugh. I've sure laughed a lot about it and the few people I've shared it with, up to this point, have also laughed a lot. It may not translate very well into written words, but hey, why not give it a try?

It was July of 2022. I had been a caregiver for an elderly lady for seven years before she died. A special friendship had grown between us during those years, and her passing was very sad even though she had lived a long and productive life. It was nice to see her family at the visitation the evening before the funeral, but also very emotional.

Bobby likes Jersey Mike's and after leaving the funeral home I decided to pick up subs for dinner. The Jersey Mike's in Blacksburg is on the same side of town as McCoy's Funeral Home, so it was convenient. At the time, I wasn't very familiar with that particular Jersey Mike's location. I'm sure I had been in it a time or two but no more.

I wasn't looking forward to going into the store with my eyes all puffy and red from crying at the funeral home, so when I saw a drive thru sign I was delighted. I quickly made the little turn necessary to take advantage of it.

The one car in front of me pulled away from the pickup window fairly quickly which didn't give me much time to look over the menu. Something in my sad and tired brain did register the fact that there sure were a lot of coffee choices for a sub shop.

"I'll take two turkey subs," I answered in response to the voice asking me what I wanted.

A bit of silence, then "This is Starbucks."

Yes, of course this is the Starbucks drive thru. That's why the menu was basically coffee and why the green Starbucks logo is staring back at me.

I began to apologize and felt thankful I wasn't actually face to face with the nice woman who very kindly assured me, "It happens a lot. No worries."

I thanked her and circled back around to Jersey Mikes. By the time I was heading home with the turkey subs on the seat beside me I was laughing out loud at myself. Yes, I just ordered a turkey sub at Starbucks. I called a couple people to share the funny story, and they laughed as loudly as I was laughing at myself. To this day we joke about the mishap. "I'll take a turkey sub," we say from time to time and then the laughter rolls again.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving turkey and have a laugh on me.

---

Carolyn Ruth and Mom having a good laugh in high school

"A good laugh heals a lot of hurts." -Madeleine L'Engle

"Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand." Mark Twain

"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." -Lord Byron

"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." - Victor Borge

"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor." -Charles Dickens

"If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane." - Robert Frost

"Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it." L. M. Montgomery

2015 trip to Prince Edward Island

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be grateful!