In Which I Have a Tickly Throat and Help a Daughter

A Year of Being Kind blog – Monday, October 20, 2014

In Which I Have a Tickly Throat and Help a Daughter

Ever feel that tickly feeling in the back of your throat? The kind where you feel something sort of uncomfortable back there, but you can’t do much about it? That’s how I’ve been feeling for the past few days. October is here. Brightly colored leaves, cooler weather, the grass and greenery turning faded and brown. With all of that change in the growing things out of doors comes mold. The October gusts of wind spread that mold everywhere. Lucky me, I happen to be allergic to much of that mold. Thus—the tickly feeling in the back of my throat—post nasal drip. Also, itchy eyes and full sinuses. Those are things that I need to deal with, every October.

Don’t get me wrong. I love autumn. I really do! I love to walk in the woods or the Forest Preserves, and take a look at the beautiful panorama of nature. But—the mold count does impinge on my full enjoyment of this season of the year. Because of my allergies, I was moving slowly this morning. Sure, I went to work today, and I did get some things done. However, for the most part, I took it easy.

My youngest daughter is home for several days. It happens to be her fall break. She was kind enough to do several loads of laundry while I was at work. (Thanks, Rachel!) On Saturday, she and I talked about her college band. She happens to play the bass clarinet. (Very well, I might add. And, no, it’s not just pride in my daughter. I do know something about music.) She needs several new reeds for the bass clarinet mouthpiece. I said I would pick them up. It’s not like I was going miles out of the way or anything. However, the music store was an additional thing to do. Place to stop. And, I was not feeling that well, on top of things.

But once I got in the car, I found the wheels almost steered themselves to the Band and Instrument store. I asked for some mid-grade reeds of the appropriate hardness, and spent a few enjoyable minutes conversing with one of the workers at the shop. I was kind and friendly to him, too.

Moral of the story? well, not really. It’s just that I have the ability to be kind, friendly, and helpful. I can be of service, even when I don’t feel well. Even when I am rushed, frazzled, frustrated, or downright angry. That means I still have the chance, the opportunity to be kind, courteous, and helpful. Please, God, help me remember these kind, encouraging words and actions. I might be able to pass them along—even when I am not feeling bouncy, friendly and energetic. God willing.

@chaplaineliza

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Being Kind, Going to a Band Concert

A Year of Being Kind blog – Sunday, August 17, 2014

Being Kind, Going to a Band Concert

My husband and I went to a band concert today. Yes, an outdoor summer band concert, a community band. With two Sousa marches, a Leroy Anderson tune, and Percy Granger among the music on the program. With the added sparkle of a Wizard of Oz medley, plus a Louis Armstrong retrospective. Who could ask for anything more?

Except—this wasn’t merely a pleasant Sunday summer’s afternoon event. No, our daughter was one of the band members. So, attending the band concert was in part showing support for our daughter and her band, and, the band’s director, Dr. Dave Fodor. We heard the Wilmette Community Band this afternoon, and their performance was by turns rousing, enjoyable, and even touching.

My daughter Rachel has been playing bass clarinet and contra-clarinet for the past number of years. Since she was living at home with us for the past year, and the band director happened to know she was available to play in the community band, she has been providing them some bass support. (She very much likes to play those low notes!) This was the last opportunity she had to play with the band, because she is going away to college in just a few days. And—my husband and I took the opportunity to attend their open-air summer concert.

My husband and I have both participated in a number of musical groups, in grammar school, high school, college, and afterwards. (Including recently.) We are accustomed to rehearsals, keeping track of music and musical instruments, and performing for various kinds of audiences. (This afternoon’s audience was genial, friendly and laid back. Just what a summer concert audience ought to be.) It’s a wonderful thing to pass on a love for music to our daughter. Not only an appreciation for music, in a listening-kind-of-sense, but also an enjoyment in performance, as well.

Sure, I enjoyed attending the concert! But who says being kind and enjoyment are mutually exclusive? Both my husband and I were and are awfully proud of our daughter. She played very well, in her usual capable, workmanlike manner. (As my husband said, “I expected no less.” <grin>) Yes, of course I attended my daughter’s concert today! And, I am trying my best to express kindness to her, along with love and appreciation.

As we count down the days until my daughter goes away to college, I am doing my best to savor what time I have with her. Those last, few days.

@chaplaineliza

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