snapshots

Family

My daughter and I don’t always see things the same way but we often enjoy long discussions. She is kind enough to allow me to give her motherly advice (though I don’t know if she takes it) and sweet enough to let me nurture her at times. We have worked together professionally and I admire her nursing skills and she my social working skills. We travel well together and at home we enjoy spa days, lunch, shopping, family and spending time with her grandchildren… my great grandchildren. Sometimes, when we are laughing (or even when we’re crying) I can’t help wondering what it would have been like to have a mother-daughter relationship with my mother.
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I went to Iowa a while back. I was invited to a family reunion by people I did not know and who were not family. I met them online. When we arrived at my hostess Laurie’s house her two sisters, Barb and Connie and their kids were there. We sat downstairs in the den with cool drinks and began to get to know each other. As we talked Barb waved a bottle of nail polish. “Connie,” she said, “polish my toenails for me, okay?” Connie sat on the stool in front of her sister, picked up the bottle and polished Barb’s nails.
I was in a strange state with people I didn’t yet know but I certainly recognized honest sisterly love when I saw it.
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Strangers

A week or so ago I pulled into an AM – PM minimart to get gas. I know they sell BP gas but I see a need to support them because they have a contract with BP and must buy gas from them. To boycott AM – PM minimart would not hurt BP, but it is obviously already hurting AM – PM minimart. They have dropped the price of their gas.
There was a large two tank gas truck next to my car getting ready to leave. The young driver got out of his truck and asked, “May I help you?” He pumped my gas for me, got in his truck, waved and left. He wore a BP insignia on his uniform. We’re all in this together.
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A couple of evenings ago I was sitting on the porch of Panera Bread enjoying a glass of iced tea. A young man with several old plastic bags sat down at the table across the porch from me. It was the end of a very hot day and he looked hot, dry and homeless. “Can I buy you something cold?” I asked. He got up and left. Sometimes good intentions can hurt others.
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I was in the store where I buy plants and seeds. There was a plant on the back shelf that was almost dead. I picked it up and looked at it. There was a tiny bit of fresh green at the bottom. “What will you do with this plant?” I asked the clerk.
“Throw it out.”
“May I have it?”
“Give it to you? No. You have to buy it.”
“But it’s almost dead.”
“Yep.”
I bought it, brought it home, put it in the kitchen window and watered it. It died. I’m still glad I bought it.