Helpful with a Cat. Again.

A Year of Being Kind blog – Monday, December 15, 2014

Helpful with a Cat. Again.

I like animals, very much. And my daughter knows that when she is out of town, I would be more than willing to take care of her cat. Lovely tabby.

So, guess who is cat-sitting? Again? The tabby cat is happy when I come over to her place. (I mean, the cat’s place. Where she allows my daughter to live, too.)

I am sad that I cannot live in the same place as a cat. I have allergies, and my eyes will water and my nose will run. Then, I’ll sneeze. That is, when my face comes in contact with the cat’s fur. Or, when I pet the cat and then touch my face near my eyes—much less coming into direct contact and actually rubbing my eyes. (I can’t even imagine how badly my eyes would water if a cat were to get cat dander all over my bed sheets.)

What is it like for people who are allergic to a great many things? I know my older sister is even more allergic than I am. I have absolutely no idea what I would do. I am afraid I’m not a person who keeps the house spotless. (I wonder whether I would keep things more spotless if I had to? Thank goodness I don’t need to.)

Which leads me back to my daughter’s tabby cat. The cat was so happy to see me. She is affectionate and sweet, occasionally mewing and asking for pats on the head and neck, and tummy rubs. I stayed there for about an hour and a half, doing some writing that needed to be finished. And, petting the cat who was seated in my lap. I definitely was kind to the cat—who very much likes company. And, I was helpful to my daughter, who appreciates the time I spend with the tabby when she is not available.

In my apartment, I am animal-deprived right now. I could have a cat. I could. The condo rules permit owners to have an animal fifteen pounds or less. However, as stated before, I am allergic to cats. My husband is not in favor of us having a dog. So—we do not have any animal right now. If I want to see a four-legged creature, I need to appreciate and visit other people’s animals.

But I can still be helpful and kind. Kind to my daughter’s cat. Like today.

@chaplaineliza

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Helpfully Transporting a Daughter

A Year of Being Kind blog – Saturday, August 23, 2014

Illustration of Hogwarts Castle
by Andette

Helpfully Transporting a Daughter

I almost wasn’t going to blog about this, but yesterday was the day. Move-in day. My daughter went away to college. And yes, my husband and I transported her to the campus, not so many miles away from our condo. Just far enough away for her to feel on her own, but near enough to be able to easily come back for a special event. Like on Monday, when she’ll be coming back home for a special Doctor Who event, shown that evening in “selected theaters.” And if you don’t know what or who Doctor Who is? Don’t ask. My daughter will simply give one of her signature eye rolls. Suggestion? Check out the article on Wikipedia. That should provide sufficient information.

My husband, daughter and I went to her dorm, moved in her stuff (with the assistance of two helpful, burly varsity athletes from the college), and wandered around the small campus. Went to the bookstore. Had a very nice, barbequed lunch. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful. I don’t know whether it was because of an extra-special effort for new students on campus, or what, but my husband and I were impressed and pleased. Especially at the care taken for transfer students—which is what my daughter is.

I am reminded a bit about my daughter’s other “first day at school” experiences. Preschool, kindergarten, middle school, high school. From my observations, she (more or less) rolled with the experiences. It didn’t take her very long at all to become comfortable with her surroundings, and well accustomed to the school schedule, the campus procedures, the strange and unique ways of the particular student culture. It didn’t matter whether it was preschool, middle school, or high school. I suspect she will do something similar here, too.

God’s blessings on all the students at my daughter’s college. New students, transfer students, continuing students. Also, the faculty, administration and staff. I wish them all success and good experiences in the coming year.

We hope our daughter will be content, happy, and industrious. God, bless Rachel, too. Help her know that You love, encourage and bless her, each and every day. Thank You, Lord.

@chaplaineliza

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Being Kind? Not Spouting Off . . .

A Year of Being Kind blog – Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Being Kind? Not Spouting Off . . .

I will drink most kinds of coffee. It does need to be decaffeinated, but other than that, pretty much any kind of coffee will do. Ask my youngest daughter, who is getting ready to go away to college this week. She’ll tell you I drink good coffee, mediocre coffee, even wretched coffee, if necessary.

My daughter and I went to a big box store today to get her some last things. Before move-in day on Friday. About a block away, we saw a chain restaurant. My daughter mentioned (wistfully) that she hadn’t been to that particular restaurant for a number of years. Thinking suddenly, she amended that, since she and her friends had been there for a festive occasion about two years ago. We both laughed. I asked her whether she would like to eat there this afternoon. Special, festive occasion, and all. After all, it isn’t every day that one’s youngest daughter prepares to go off to college.

We went in, sat down, and checked out the menus. I noticed the service was slow. Even after the waitress came to take our order, she disappeared in the back for quite a while. I ordered decaf coffee. (As my daughter will verify, I do this all the time, and just about every restaurant.) When she finally brought the coffee, it was cool. She disappeared before I could mention the tepid coffee to her. I really don’t mind tepid coffee, but I needed to add a good deal of milk to it. (It has to be the proper color, after all! A nice, lighter mocha. Or café au lait, if you like.) Five little cream containers were on the side of the cup. I put them all in. All of them. And the color of the coffee hardly changed, at all.

That was strong coffee, believe me. Strong, and really rotten tasting. I kid you not. I will drink most kinds of poor and even wretched coffee, but this coffee, today? I do believe this was the worst coffee I have ever drunk in my whole life. And, that’s saying something.

I didn’t see the waitress again for some time, except far away across the room. She delivered some plates to another table, a good distance away. Since my oldest daughter is the general manager of a superb breakfast/brunch restaurant in Chicago, I have some elementary idea of how restaurants operate.

And this one? This restaurant my daughter and I were sitting in this afternoon? The service rated a 3 out of 10. My coffee was a 1 out of 10 (and I thought that was generous, even charitable). The only saving grace was the food. Absolutely marvelous. Really and truly.

My daughter mentioned my showing disapproval in the tip. Or, lack of tip. I said it might not be the waitress’s fault. (Of course, as time passed, I do tend to think her lackadaisical attitude might have affected her service. But the coffee? To complain about that, I asked for the manager. And even then? I expressed myself in a courteous manner.

In retrospect, I think I was courteous when dealing with the restaurant staff today. I wonder how I might have acted and spoken if the situation had been different? If I had been in a bad mood, or had a headache, or any one of a number of other things? I can thank God that I was able to be kind. (Thanks, God!)

@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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Being Kind? With a Teacher and a Computer!

A Year of Being Kind blog – Saturday, August 9, 2014

yoga illustration
from dreamstime.com

Being Kind? With a Teacher and a Computer!

This being a Saturday, I went to the YMCA this morning for yoga class.

Have I mentioned that I just love my yoga class? And I love my yoga teacher. Awesome, helpful, patient. Her classes usually fill the large room, yet she keeps an eagle eye on all of the class members. In a good way, though. Three weeks ago, I moved up from the beginner class to the intermediate level. (I feel very much at the low end of the class. But, I can do almost all the poses now!) The class was doing the plow pose. On your shoulders, arms supporting the back perpendicular to the floor, and legs straight as you can make them, over your head. It’s only the second time in my life that I have ever done a plow pose.

As the teacher walked about the room, she came over and assisted me to try a variation. And then she continued to lead the class in the next poses. I exchanged a few words with her outside of the locker room, after the class. She encouraged me in continuing with yoga, and said she had noticed my improvement. (Such a kind thing to say!) She also said that I needed trust in myself and my own body. I responded, and told her what a tremendous teacher she was. I mentioned, “How important it is to have trust in a teacher. Like you,” I finished, with a big smile. And—I meant it!

I needed to stop by my work after I left the gym. I swung by to pick up my daughter, on the way to do several other errands. We drove out to the church, admiring the forest preserves on the way, too. It’s August. School time will be upon us before anyone knows it. My daughter is going away to college in less than two weeks, so I am glad to be able to spend what time that I can with her.

After I talked with another church member for a little while, I turned on the computer at the office manager’s desk. I don’t appreciate Windows 8, and unfortunately, that is the operating system installed. The church member and I were commiserating about Windows 8, and he mentioned that he was going to try to install Windows 8.1. I had a sudden idea. My daughter—the maven of computers and social media—was in the next room. (She was sitting in my office, on her laptop.) She obligingly downloaded the 8.1 update! Both the church member and I thanked her so much. I truly appreciate those who have comprehensive and extensive knowledge about areas where I am—at best—an advanced beginner.

So, people are kind to me each day! And I try to be kind, too. It certainly helps to make things run more smoothly. In terms of communication, operation, and personal interaction. God, thanks for showing me more great examples of kindness today.

@chaplaineliza

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