Random Acts of "Kindness"

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CLIPPED WINGS

I had plans. They weren’t big plans or expensive plans. We were going to the country for almost a month. I planned to try to lose weight. I planned to exercise in the water almost every day. I planned to increase the number of steps — walk the short nature trail, add the trails I used to walk before my knees became a problem. I planned to do many meals in our crock pot — not only to save money but to control the amount of sodium I was eating.

God must have laughed. MY PLAN — did I consult to make sure my plans were agreeable? NO! I DID NOT! My plans quickly disappeared. Our first week, Robin and I walked the short version of the nature trail. I planned to increase the length the next week. I went to water exercise and maybe worked my legs too much. I made a pot of ham and beans in the slow cooker. My husband invited friends to help us eat it. Too high in sodium for me because of the ham but it was delicious! The temperature forecast was for 90. We went out for breakfast but I only ordered one egg, potatoes and rye toast. NOT WHAT I WANTED — I was watching sodium.

Returning to the car from shopping at the store — I pulled the hamstring at the back of my right knee. I don’t know what I did. I only know it HURT! ALL OF MY PLANS QUICKLY CHANGED. It hurt to sit down. In order to get back up — I had to have support to pull myself up. Thankfully supper was ready — in the crock pot. Even going to the bathroom was interesting. I couldn’t sit down. Thankfully the next day the swelling decreased enough so that I could sit in the bathroom.

I DO NOT MAKE A GOOD INVALID. My grandkids were at the campground — they were going to the pool. Sadly I decided to stay put, keep the leg up. It was hard to ice the leg since the pulled muscle was behind the knee. I finally put a bag of frozen vegetables on the chair and placed my leg on top. SUCCESS!

Having planned meals for the slow cooker — meal preparation was easier. I had the ingredients on hand. Thankfully my husband liked all the new recipes. So did our friends.

After almost two weeks — my leg is better — I have only gone to water exercise once. Doing too much — stressed the muscle. I have finally driven the car — but not the scooter. I have to remember to put my butt in the car, then add the legs. I still CAN NOT get up unaided. Our oldest daughter suggested I do Tia Chi — It is gentle stretching. Is it helping? I don’t know. But not hurting! I have walked the short nature trail — picked ripe blackcaps on the way.

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SEWING MACHINE

I thought it would be EASY to fix a pulled seam on my husband’s shorts. It should have been. It should have taken me one half hour tops, including taking out the sewing machine and setting it up. The reality was that it took more than three hours. During that time I had to call on my husband two times for HELP!

Okay, first I’ll admit that I haven’t used the sewing machine in years. To tell the truth, I don’t remember how many years it has been since I last used it. I made Christmas presents — not sure which present it was. I used to use the machine often — square dance clothes, Halloween costumes, tote bags. It was my friend. Together we accomplished many things. The memories of those times kept me trying to get the machine to work right.

First the pressure foot didn’t seem to hold the material. I thought the machine might need to be oiled — first call to my husband. He knows how to oil machines. Thankfully we had oil that would work. I still had the instruction book that showed which parts needed to be oiled. A little bit of oil and the pressure foot held the fabric and moved it through. SUCCESS!

For a minute. Then a needle broke. I FOUND a new needle! The instruction book showed the steps for threading the machine. The newly threaded machine broke the thread. MANY TIMES! I could NOT figure out what I was doing wrong. Time passed. It had been a rainy day, then the sun came out. Opportunity’s to go out — Rib Fest — Blues Fest — beckoned.

EXCEPT — Have I mentioned that I’m stubborn. I did not want to put the machine away in pieces or not working right. I DID NOT WANT TO GIVE UP. Time passed. The thread traveled through the machine the way it was supposed to. Then the bobbin thread started to bunch up and tangle. I didn’t do anything to the bobbin thread! WHY? Taking the bobbin assembly out of the machine has NEVER been easy for me! SOME THINGS DON’T CHANGE.

Finally — machine back together, I adjusted the stitch length and it WORKED! Fixed my husbands shorts, fixed a pair of my own, and a blouse and a rain coat. SUCCESS! Of course it was too late to go out and play. Truth be told — my legs were sore from the day before. I had such an enjoyable time at the Blues Fest — there was no way I could repeat it.

I was able to put my friend — the machine — away in good condition. I always acknowledge that “I have friends in high places.” Evidently it was best for me to stay home and they “helped!”

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MADE MY DAY

I suppose it is no secret that I LOVE MUSIC . Even though Chicago has hosted the Blues Festival for 35 years — most of the early years was held without me. My husband DOES NOT LIKE CROWDS. He does not LIKE to go downtown so for the many years when we were raising our family, I didn’t go to any of the festivals in Chicago. One year I came to the realization that I could go by MYSELF. And so I did. And I continue to go by myself when we are in town. Sometimes he will go with me but not often.

We were scheduled to be in town for the 35th Blues Fest. Recently it moved from Grant Park to Millenium Park. Exact reasoning is yet to be determined but the city is able to provide more security for the event. In this day and age that is not a bad thing. In town — I planned to go. Rain was predicted for the Festival but I thought that if I wore a raincoat and limited the stuff I was carrying, I would be alright.

I noticed that the Festival was honoring Bob Koester for the 65 years that his record company, Delmark records, played an important part in the blues and jazz of the city. The Koester family lived down the street and around the corner from us. My middle daughter babysat for his children, my youngest daughter was good friends with their daughter. I stopped at the Delmark both to inquire. I learned that the entire family was present. BUT WHERE? Millenium Park was a smaller place, but thousands of people attended the Blues Fest.

I stopped at Southwest airlines to spin the prize wheel and won a canvas tote. I stopped by the stairs to reorganize stuff. The gentleman that I just talked to at Delmark records walked by. He asked if he had just talked to me. When I said he had, he told me where Sue, Katie and children where. I didn’t waste any time — they were sitting by a table at the restaurant. I had no idea who I was looking for so I looked for children. I asked a young mother if she was Katie AND SHE WAS! Happy — understatement! I phoned both of my younger daughters and they ANSWERED their phones. They both got a chance to talk with Katie. Made all of our days!

I enjoyed the music but I was HUNGRY. I hadn’t brought enough stuff to eat. I decided to find McDonald’s since I knew I could control the sodium level. If I turned right after leaving the park, McDonald’s would have been right there. Instead I turned left and walked FOREVER. After getting something to eat, I decided to keep walking over to State street. I knew there was an elevator by the Library stop. An elderly couple looked confused, I asked if I could help. Easy, they wanted the Red Line — subway train that was on the block we were on. At the Library, I made it up to the mezzanine — connecting platform between North bound and Southbound trains when I encountered a man who also needed help. No one there to help him find the Blue Line. Taking a couple of minutes to think, I was able to give him directions.

Frosting on the cake!

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HI BROTHER

I noticed this morning that I needed one more thought ramble to have something scheduled to publish for the full month of June. Hopefully we will be going to the camper where internet access while available is not as convenient. My recent experience with the heat doesn’t give me much hope for brain function.

As most of you know, when I was four, my mother and brother passed over because of a fire. Did I pass over too and be sent back? Does it matter? If I had any unusual talents at the time — in the late 40’s and 50’s, having extra talents was not safe. So I hid them and they disappeared.

Slowly some talents are surfacing, I’m sure why, maybe because of “help from my friends.” I have a job to do.

The day before my brother’s birthday, a phone call to my daughter ended in the middle of a conversation THREE times. The day of his birthday, before we left for the camper I NOTICED six iris where in bloom in the back yard. I successfully took a picture with the I pad and posted it on MESSENGER to share with my family. (I’m not skilled doing that.) I have a note that mention’s MAJOR HELP but I didn’t go into details. Sadly, I often neglect to write things down. Maybe it is a good thing I do thought rambles on a regular basis.

Are you AWARE? Has writing about some of my experiences “helped” you? What am I going on and on about? Is there a reason?

YES! This morning before going to Mass, I took Robin for her morning walk. Blue skies — not a cloud anywhere. We had a heavy rain during the night but all the clouds had moved on. Slightly chilly. I had on a light jacket that has a hood. Walking under a fully leafed oak tree, I received a shower. So heavy was the water, I raised the hood of my jacket. “Hi Brother.”

I really don’t know if he was the cause BUT who but a younger brother would tease his sister? I have MANY friends in high places, but only one brother!

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BEFUDDLED

Is that a real word? I really don’t know and I’m afraid to look it up. The name came to me when I remembered the previous weekend. In preparation for camping, I looked at the forecast of the temperatures for our campground. At home it had been in the 70’s. I wanted to bring summer clothes if the temperature was going to be warmer. The forecast predicted low 80’s.

They were WRONG! Warmest day in years — 97 to be exact, followed by another 97 degree day. Since May had been cool and rainy, in fact the rain broke the all time record — 8″. My body hadn’t had the time to adjust to 70 let alone 90.

We didn’t have air conditioning but bright and early on Sunday morning, our son-in-law came to our camper to help install the window air conditioner that they no longer didn’t needed. They had a room addition built and central air conditioning installed.

I felt the effects of the heat early Sunday morning. I drove my scooter to the gas station to fill it up. I raised the seat, took off the gas cap but couldn’t get the pump to work. Putting everything back, closing the seat I went inside to discuss my problem. Coming back out, I forgot how to open the seat. I kept feeling for a latch. UNSUCCESSFULLY! I had to drive the scooter back to ask my husband how to open the seat. It opened with a key! I FELT FOOLISH.

But I wasn’t done with the day. Later, I drove our grandchildren to look at a group of animals that had come for a visit: blue eyed pony, llama, Peaches: the albino skunk, rabbits, prairie dog and a turtle or two. Leaving there we stopped at an air conditioned building before heading for ice cream. The line was TOO LONG. Our daughter phoned, arranging to pick up her children. I headed for the grocery store to get bread. NONE AVAILABLE. Only hot dog and hamburger buns. When I went back to our car, I didn’t have the keys? Remembering the numbers for the code on our car, I was able to put the groceries in the trunk. Returning to the grocery store, I looked for my car keys. UNSUCCESSFUL.

Returning to our car, I used the numbers to gain entrance — hoping I dropped the keys inside. NOPE! They were in the ignition — the car running. I forgot to turn the car off when I parked. OOPS!

My husband didn’t far better. He was dizzy and wobbly when he was walking. Not dehydrated, he had consumed SEVEN bottles of water. Still a bit dizzy on Monday but capable of driving back home. The air conditioning in our car, although it works, the car tends to overheat if in heavy traffic. all windows open, we took the back roads to avoid the construction. Then connected with the toll way when it was back to four lanes. THANKFULLY — NO TRAFFIC!

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LITTLE THINGS

It is the littler things that slip through the cracks!

Sunday was the feast of Pentecost — the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the closed room and changed their lives. I find that feast significant because I realized that I am celebrating my six year anniversary of Wandering With Spirit this month. I can’t say that the blog has changed my life — but maybe it has. If I don’t write on a regular basis, if I don’t have something scheduled to publish every week, my life becomes more interesting than I want it to. More things go wrong. I’m REMINDED that I have work to do. Since I am always on the lookout for a writing idea, I might pay more attention to my life.

One of my favorite sayings is: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him/Her your plans,” I had been at the Garden the day before. I had many steps on my pedometer. I planned to do NOTHING. The phone rang at 8:10. It was I Dot — we have a transponder that allows us to speed through the tollway gates at a decent speed, not wait in line forever. It was a present to my husband a few years ago. Now I was told it wasn’t working. We would be charged a cash car rate any time we went through. Camping season is starting. We use the tollways a lot. I learned where an office was. I learned that the battery might have run out. The number I received for our credit card didn’t match. I had no idea where the number came from. The one thing I did know — WE HAD TO GO FOR A DRIVE AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. It was an easy solution. The battery on our transponder had run out, we just needed a new one.

On the way home, I suggested we stop at Wal-Mart so I could try on some shorts. I’ve noticed that my old ones are slipping down. It is most uncomfortable. I planned to order from a catalogue, but in order to do so, I needed to know my size. I tried on a smaller size and IT FIT. My husband suggested I buy a second swimsuit for back up. I like to exercise every weekday at the camper. If my suit is still wet, it is too cold to wear again. I saw a swimsuit that I thought might work. It has to be one piece, two pieces DON’T WORK for exercising. The hanger had my size so I tried it on. I looked at the tag on the swimsuit — it was the smaller size. HAPPY!

I picked up frozen pizzas at the store. My husband put them in the downstairs basement for me — saving my knees. I found them on Friday morning in the fridge — not the freezer. When I asked him — he said I told him to put them there???? Saturday, we went to a steakhouse to celebrate Mother’s day. He drove a different way, and said that was how he always goes. ????

One plus one didn’t add up. I was becoming concerned. On Sunday — Pentecost — I said a couple of prayers — asking God to “help” my husband. My father had Alzheimer’s disease. I REALLY DIDN’T WANT my husband to be affected. I decided that I wasn’t going to worry. Hands off — God was in charge.

Walking home from church — I noticed a shiny lilac object lying on the ground. I almost passed by. Then I backed up and took another look. It was a lilac sparkling gem in a hanging earring. It had a stopper to keep it from falling out of the ear. It reminded me that the night before, I had lost the backing on one of my crystal earrings but luckily the earring had not fallen out.

THANK YOU! Enough said.

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INVITATION CRABAPPLES

By know you know that I enjoy Chicago’s Botanic Garden for many reasons. I don’t have the space, time or energy to maintain a lovely garden myself but I LOVE flowers. I totally enjoy walking the paths, listening to the rushing water on the waterfalls or fountains, and watching as the seasons change.

I try to get to the garden in time for the daffodils. This year I didn’t make it. I ALWAYS try to visit when the crabapples are in bloom. My first visit this year, they were trees in waiting. I totally enjoyed a huge magnolia tree. The Japanese cherry trees were in full bloom as well as the rhododendron in the Japanese Garden. I totally enjoyed the day, took many photos and hoped to return when the crabapples were in bloom.

Just ONE week later, I received an invitation, the crabapples were in bloom. I didn’t hesitate. The next day, sunny but cool found me back in the Garden. This time I arrived earlier, before the bells chimed twelve. This time, once again I found a parking spot in the closest parking lot. THANK YOU!

It is my practice to check out the salads and other food on the menu before I wander the paths. I noticed a key lime tart. I knew it wouldn’t be available when I finished my walk. I decided it needed to accompany me. I wasn’t hungry, but I LOVE key lime pie. It became the second photo I took that day. It wandered with me until I reached the waterfalls. Sitting on a bench — in the sunshine — listening to the rushing water, I totally enjoyed the tart.

The magnolia tree had lost its flowers, the Japanese cherry trees were no longer in bloom, I debated walking the Japanese Garden. I was happy that I did — azalea’s were in bloom, the Japanese retreat house was open, as well as quite a few crabapple trees. I didn’t count the number of photos I took at the Garden. I’m sure it was well over 100. Besides the crabapple trees, I have a photo of two turtles sunning on a couple of rocks. (I overheard a father pointing them out to his son.) I also have a photo of a mother robin feeding her chicks in a nest.

This time I wandered to the island, enjoying the crabapples in bloom in the lanes. White and pink trees were laden with blooms. The red blossoms were still waiting. I noticed a white crabapple tree so full of blossoms that the branches were hidden. A tram passed as I admired the tree. The driver told her group it was a weeping white crabapple. Her favorite tree in the Garden.

Stopping for a salad before leaving, it was a perfect day!

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BASKETS

Thankfully I have “FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES.” I really don’t have a special reason for saying that. I often recognize their help. Recent examples — our sons shirts missing, causing him to stay home and miss Robin’s quest — my parking place at the Garden. The title of this ramble more or less says it all.

I recently recognized what “my elephant in the room” was. Last Fall, the money that supplements our health insurance from my husband’s company ended. I knew it was running out, but wasn’t aware of the time. At the same time, my husband entered the GAP for his prescriptions. Because of kidney damage, one of my husband’s pills is EXTREMELY HIGH!

I wasn’t prepared. This year our health insurance has gone up too. To say that I’m being careful would be an understatement. I just wasn’t aware of what was causing my anxiety.

What does that have to do with baskets you might ask. Since we spend a good part of our summer at the camper, I wasn’t sure how many hanging baskets or flowers I wanted to buy for the city. I saw the prices for hanging baskets and wasn’t impressed — $21. I usually buy at least four or five. I can easily see them, and not have to get down on the ground to plant them. Wal-Mart had baskets at $12 but they didn’t look that great. Four at $12 a piece was more money than I wanted to spend.

THANKFULLY I HAVE FRIENDS. I had already been shopping for food at another store, but I decided to stop at Aldi’s to see if they had any flowers. I didn’t take in a cart because I wasn’t planning on grocery shopping. I found hanging baskets marked down in price to $3 a piece. They looked very sad but I found three begonias that I thought would survive. Begonias like the shade, which is mostly what our yard has. The rest of the hanging baskets were filled with sun loving plants. Yard didn’t look quite as sad.

The next day, I attended the Mass of a friend. She was well known and the Mass was packed! I had taken our car to church instead of walking. Parking had been impossible — street cleaning, construction and the funeral combined. Walking back to our car, I remembered that our son said we needed bleach. I decided to go to the Aldi’s in our neighborhood. I FOUND a beautiful hanging geranium plant for $10. MINE! And it was the last one. When I placed the hanging baskets in our yard the previous day, I remembered that we always had a geranium basket hanging when we first entered. Thankfully, now we had one this year as well!

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GARDEN CALLING

I’m sure, that by now you know that I LOVE to go to Chicago’s Botanic Garden. In fact, for Christmas, I asked our son to renew my membership for a present. As much as I LOVE going, I hadn’t been there this year. The weather had been cold, or damp. On the few good days we had, other priorities had my attention.
Daffodils were in bloom, but I missed them.

The forecast for Tuesday promised sunshine and warmer temperatures. We had just returned from the camper where crabapple trees were in bloom. Crabapple time at the Garden was one of my favorite times of the year. I put ALL of the “have to” on hold. Grabbed a hat and my camera and headed for the GARDEN.

Absolutely perfect day. I knew my knees were acting up, so I looked for a parking space close to the entrance. I FOUND ONE. THANK YOU! Hat tied down on the head, camera in hand, water bottle in the other — I started off. The bells were ringing twelve when I entered. Stopping in the bathroom, I noticed a beautiful oriental woman with long braided hair, wearing a long peach dress. I restrained myself — didn’t ask if I could capture her image on my camera. I hoped I would meet her in the garden but she must have been on her way out. I didn’t see her again.

Roses were still “ladies in waiting”, as were the crab apple trees — buds on the branches but not open. The fountain in the lagoon hadn’t been turned on yet. But the fountain in the Rose Garden was. I’ll have to come back. I spied a magnolia tree above a brick fence in the Old English garden — BEAUTIFUL. I might have missed it since it was hiding behind a wall. The poppies were already in bloom.

I was very happy when I heard the sounds of the water from the waterfalls. I took the opportunity to sit in the shade and enjoy the cascading water. The cherry trees, a gift from Japan, were in bloom. The oriental woman when I first arrived and the cherry trees reminded me that I wanted to walk the Japanese garden. I have many photos of Spring in the Garden from my many visits. That doesn’t stop me from taking new pictures of the day. I was very glad that I walked the Japanese Garden, many picture taking opportunities.

I normally visit the new island, I love to walk the path that is sheltered by the crab apple trees but my knees were yelling. Since the daffodils were finished, I decided to retrace my steps, stopping at the Woodland path on the way out.

By the time I reached home, after making a couple of stops on the way, I had over 11,000 steps. Not too shabby for sore knees.

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SHIRTS

Finally, after months, weeks, days of cloudy, chilly weather — a sunny weekend was forecast. My husband and I plus dog –” Robin”, planned to go to the camper. Our son planned to come out on Saturday. My cell phone rang Friday night. My son was very upset. I had taken his NEW shirts, seven in all to be dry cleaned. We have an old house — over a hundred years and the water is leaving a residue on our clothes when they are washed. Our son DID NOT want to wear spotted shirts on his new role.

On Tuesday, I had taken seven shirts to be dry cleaned. He stopped to pick them up on Thursday but they weren’t ready. We left for the Camper Friday morning. Friday evening the dry cleaner still didn’t have his shirts. To say that our son was angry would be an understatement. Not only did he not have his shirts — they were brand new. He would have to BUY MORE! Plans for the camper were CANCELLED!

Saturday morning the cleaner found his shirts. They had been there all the time, just were miss filed. But it was already late in the day. He was still going to stay home.

Saturday afternoon, Robin heard a noise behind a folding table in our room addition. She barked and scratched and raised such a fuss I asked my husband to pull the table away from the wall so she could investigate. NOTHING WAS THERE! He took her outside so she could inspect that too. They didn’t find anything. All day Saturday, Robin was camped out under the table. Waiting, watching, listening — BARKING, SCRATCHING. Making a ruckus.

Saturday night — Robin didn’t find anything, but she was DETERMINED — she was protecting us! She stayed on guard to capture it. She didn’t stay on guard quietly. My husband locked her in the camper part of the trailer. Instead of resting, going to sleep, it made it worse. ALL NIGHT — the barking, scratching continued. FIVE in the morning, I gave up, stayed up. Got dressed. Robin and I went for a walk. My husband laid down for a nap. I kept Robin outside until almost 10. We went for a long walk, we went for a drive. I had coffee with friends — we went to visit other friends. Every few hours I returned and left a note as to where we were going next. My husband got a few hours of sleep. Sunday afternoon I laid down for a nap. I was VERY GLAD our son had stayed home.

Sunday evening, at dusk — I saw a round, low to the ground being waddle across our lot. It was very round — tan and white. My husband thought it was a possum with babies in her pouch. I hoped it was leaving in search of a new, quiet home. Sunday night we got a quiet nights sleep. Robin was still alert, on guard but she also was tired. Ready for SLEEP, helped by an allergy pill.

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