What Was Your Last "Just Because" Moment?
It's interesting how welcome an unexpected kindness of food can be. Especially the sweet stuff. Even the most cynical of hearts can be melted by a child's cupcake (think sprinkles), or a piece of homemade fudge. Something to do with the idea that it's offered simply because. No strings, no occasion, no rhyme or reason. Just a wish for it to be enjoyed and perhaps remembered with a small smile.
While working the front desk one recent night, some guests were grilling out - happily creating a meal for their family. The father brought me a skewer of scallops wrapped in bacon and a fresh salad - I'd not even met them yet. But he thought I'd enjoy sharing their dinner. Just because.
But you know the real secret? It doesn't have to be food. An unexpected kindness can take any shape under the sun ... or the moon. I was busily running through the grocery store the other day when an elderly woman asked if I knew where the lettuce was. We were on the opposite side of the store, so I offered to get it for her. She was somewhat stunned but agreed. After she promised to stay put (I could just see myself searching for this woman while holding a head of lettuce), I was off. I've honestly never been so careful when choosing lettuce. The look on her face, her genuine appreciation, touched me. Such a simple thing. Just because.
What was your last "just because" moment? Whether you gave or received - or both - I'd love to hear about it. While I munch on a brownie.
Damn you and your brownies!!! Now I have to run out and get some... doughnuts.
As Homer would say, "Ahhhhh.... sweet food of the Gods.... doughnuts."
Be back with Boston Cremes.
January 7, 2009 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hurry up, will ya?
January 7, 2009 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. Made it back. Didn't realize there's so many people here. Or else I'd have brought back more than 12.... um... 5 doughnuts.
*munch munch*
Honest!
*munch*
January 8, 2009 12:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
That last *munch* is mine or I'm taking a bearclaw. No Boston Creme has ever gotten by me and I ain't starting now.
January 8, 2009 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I gave a musical instrument away because some people at a church I'll never even see needed one. And I'm not even a churchgoer, really, it just seemed like the right thing to do.
January 7, 2009 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Admit it, Grouch... it was a tuba.
And now you attend, and snicker, as the choir tries to sing along.
January 8, 2009 12:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nope. SG Special. Went to a parish in the Caribbean.
I don't do no steenkin' tuba...
January 8, 2009 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
A couple weeks ago it was 1:30 in the morning, and one of my favorite movies was on. I am so bad a names I cannot even remember the title but it was about Napoleon after Elba. Somehow a double dies at Elba after he was snuck back to Paris.
What a delightful flick. I decided to hell with it and watched it in delight. Actually in de dark.
January 7, 2009 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice to see you, Dick.
January 7, 2009 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Knowing how much music means to you, that was a true gift from the heart. Just because.
January 7, 2009 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forgot to check "reply" ... obviously to you, me.
January 7, 2009 11:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice to see you Missy. All the way up to five above here.
January 7, 2009 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a heat wave! Break out the swimsuit and the lounge chair!
January 7, 2009 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're forgiven - this time...
(grin)
January 7, 2009 11:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Many thanks, I'm humbled ..
January 7, 2009 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Methinks we'd best not start snarkin'!
January 7, 2009 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
;) I'm sure I'd lose the great snark debate.
January 8, 2009 12:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Naah. Here I check my snarkitude at the door.
January 8, 2009 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I promise to remind you to take it with you when you leave. You may need it elsewhere, but hopefully never here.
January 8, 2009 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
And yeah - like I told the people putting this together, music is one of the two universal languages, and I wasn't in a position to help them with their math!
January 7, 2009 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
AAAAAAT LAST. MY LOVE IS HERE TO STAY...
January 7, 2009 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
You bringin' some Etta James?
January 7, 2009 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish. God I love that song. Now they use it to sell yams or sex pills or something
January 7, 2009 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was furious when I head "I'd Rather Go Blind" as a track for some vapid beer commercial - then I found out she wrote it. So at least she gets the royalties for the sync rights.
Ever see the "Austin City Limits" show she did a couple years back? Awesome...
January 8, 2009 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I missed Austin on that one--sometimes PBS repeats old shows--but if Dylan can sell perfume (actually he couldn't), I guess she can make a buck.
January 8, 2009 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
How are you on copyright violations? I can burn you a DVD.
January 8, 2009 1:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Private use, fair comment, and do not get caught.
I got the last one from the republicans.
January 8, 2009 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish. God I love that song. Now they use it to sell yams or sex pills or something
January 8, 2009 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yams or sex pills? Are you really having trouble discerning the difference?
January 8, 2009 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. I could not put my arm down for four hours so I had to consult a physician and he told me to quit eating yams.
January 8, 2009 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just imagine Thanksgiving dinner ...
January 8, 2009 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Brown sugar, marshmallows, and Viagra? Maybe we could ask Liddy Dole for her recipe.
January 8, 2009 12:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just so Dick has a visual guide to help him out. A yam looks like THIS.
Glad to oblige. Orlando, any further help is up to you.
January 8, 2009 12:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I worry that people will miss what I say
January 8, 2009 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why?
January 8, 2009 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Too many people respond to me like that. Why?
January 8, 2009 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
It seems people have responded very well to you, Dick. I don't see a reason for any concern on your part. Except maybe for the problem with your four hour arm and a fetish for yams. But you've consulted a physician so I'm sure it's under control.
January 8, 2009 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is right and that was my right arm and the physician keeps telling me everytime I see him, to repeat
everyday in everyway I am getting better and better.
baby steps
And one day he said I will get out and be able to visit somebody.
January 8, 2009 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Visit me! I'll bake a cake.
January 8, 2009 12:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
ack ack Do you serve eggs? Over easy?
January 8, 2009 12:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I worry that people will get what I say.
January 8, 2009 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your should worry about something more realistic.
January 8, 2009 12:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
*Cough cough.*
Ahem. Remember this Resolution SOMEBODY made?
"Number one: be less grumpy."
*Cough?*
January 8, 2009 12:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't worry. On January 14th, I will be.
January 8, 2009 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's happening on January 14th?
January 8, 2009 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Orlando has joined the Eastern Orthodox Church which celebrates New Years Day on the fourteenth, I know because I overheard her say this. And to sum up it is all rather unorthodox to me.
January 8, 2009 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Dick, for the information. If Orlando should happen to overhear you, tell her I said congratulations.
January 8, 2009 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nite, nite Missy. This is always fun. i am crashing and so is my pc.
January 8, 2009 1:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
'Night, friend. Sleep peacefully.
January 8, 2009 1:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Psst, Barefooted. I haven't really joined the Eastern Orthodox Church. I just want a couple more weeks before I have to start my New Year's resolutions...
January 8, 2009 8:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you convert to Judaism, you can postpone your new year resolutions until September! Just sayin'!
January 8, 2009 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I worry that people will say what I get.
January 8, 2009 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam
January 8, 2009 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I pushed the wrong button on my remote, rolled a cigarette and fathead Dobbs was on. And guess what?
Fathead was screaming about building a wall in El Paso and screaming about the Pope interfering with our borders.
Frankly this has nothing to do with nothing but I had to tell somebody.
January 8, 2009 12:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wrote on this wall they're building outside San Diego a few months back, Dick. This is yesterday's LA Times. Friend of mine. Makes me cry. Friendship Park.
Things rarely have nothing to do with nothing. It all connects.
Well... maybe except for my posts. Though Orlando's trying to help me along. ;-)
January 8, 2009 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
give me land lots of land under starry skies above
dont fence me in.
You know, honest to god, are we trying to keep us in here or trying to keep them out. And the thought of outsourcing the job of building the fence or wall or moat or citadel to people who hire legal and most probably illegal aliens (dont you like that word? aliens).
Somebody ought to tell fathead that we are using tax dollars to illegal aliens to build walls to keep us in.
January 8, 2009 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
It should make us all cry, because we're all connected. I wager you wrote on that wall as an act of kindness swathed in defiance. So often those two things are connected, as well.
January 8, 2009 1:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The entire idea is so ridiculous, China spent two thousand years building walls and they did not keep out the invaders or the opium dealers.
January 8, 2009 1:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
First thing anyone thinks of when they see a wall is... I wonder what's on the other side? Then, they try and find out. My Mother used to say she was gonna build a wall around our lawn. And in the middle, another one, with the lawn mower inside that.
I took the hint.
January 8, 2009 1:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is so much truth in that. I am speechless. I shall remember that.
January 8, 2009 1:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
That photo is all we need to know about how wrong this wall is.
January 8, 2009 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
The four photos in their slideshow are all good. My old friend's the Rev in the 2nd one. One of the kindest men I know. He had money, education, looks, connections, could've been rich, could've been anything. Instead, he's been working on that border now for 20 years.
As our hostess here would say... just because.
They're all working to stop the demolition from happening, hoping it can be reversed after the 20th.
Here's to Friendship Park, and the tearing down of the walls.
January 8, 2009 1:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Quinn,
My thought tonight was of small acts of kindness, creating a better connection between us all. You've helped that idea by expanding upon it - reminding us that larger acts of humanity make the tiniest ones possible. Thank you for that.
January 8, 2009 1:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
And it's only the one at a time connections that make anything larger possible.
Such as you do here.
Thanks M, and sleep well.
January 8, 2009 1:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
You, too. With peace.
January 8, 2009 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
'Night, all...
January 8, 2009 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
'Night, me. Sleep peacefully, with lovely dreams.
January 8, 2009 2:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the same to all. Thanks for dropping by, I hope to see you soon.
January 8, 2009 2:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lovely thread as usual barefooted, thanks!
January 8, 2009 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink