I also have a niece. A few years back, she had new shoes. They were somewhat rigid and needed breaking in. So, she refused to wear them and cried when forced to do so.
I was getting her ready to go out and was putting her shoes on. She began to cry and explain why she didn’t like them.
I said “Yes, I know. These are the worst shoes in the world and I’m a terrible Unc Unc for making you wear them.”
She missed my sarcasm and replied in complete seriousness “No, you’re a good Unc Unc. But I don’t like these shoes.”
I live in a neighborhood full of Soviet immigrants. Many of them are Jews. I wear a yarmulke. On one occasion, as I was walking to the supermarket, an elderly man stopped me. I don’t speak Russian. I don’t speak much Yiddish. But by various words, gestures, and very little English the man shared with me that he was also a Jew and that he thought America was a wonderful country because I could wear a yarmulke and not fear being taken away by the secret police.
I just shared this in the MMP, but here goes anyway.
The company I’ve been temping for since January just gave me a jacket. I don’t work for this company, technically - although it would be cheaper for them if I did.
Just reading this thread is making me feel all tickly happy inside. Clothahump, that was so nice of you! You make me want to go out and do random acts of kindness to strangers. I’m proud to say that I know you. (You know, in an Internet message board kind of way.)
Labtrash, that’s awesome! Congratulations to you and your wife!
Let me add another one of mine. This was just a few weeks ago, when things were seriously stressful – it felt like a hundred things were going on at once, and they were all going in the wrong direction. One afternoon, a package showed up at my office. It was from an old co-worker I hadn’t seen in years, ever since he quit and moved to a different state. Really the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. Anyway, in the package was a book. A signed book. A signed copy of the latest book by an author we both like. He had an extra copy, and, all the way on the other side of the country, he thought of me.
It was completely unexpected and it just made my week. I still haven’t sent out his thank you card yet, but I’m planning to ship him some cookies for the holidays. Thanks, C!
I’m a substitute teacher. I work a couple of days a week on average. Yesterday I worked a half day for a 1st grade teacher. Not only did she request me, she told me that when she told the class who the substitute would be they cheered.
They cheered because I was coming. I don’t think anyone has ever cheered for me before. Not like that.
Then we had a good day together. I do love that class. It’s my current favorite.
I recently learned how to drive after taking transit my entire life. I know how it feels to be stuck outside at a bus stop and have it suddenly start piss-pouring rain. So I put my umbrella in my Jeep and waited…until one day when I left work and it suddenly started to downpour. There was a lone woman at the bus stop across the street looking soaked and miserable. I pulled over, gave her my umbrella, and just said “Pay it forward.” The happy smile on her face while standing under my old purple umbrella in the pouring rain made my day.
My niece called me on Monday night. She’s 7. Unfortunately, I wasn’t home, so she left me a message, asking whether I can come to her school’s “Special Person” day next Wednesday. Absolutely I can come to be your special person! I’m even taking the whole day off work to do so. I called her back Tuesday night to tell her so.
This past Sunday, my youngest nephew, impatient with how far behind (6 episodes) I am on Doctor Who, began to list off things that had happened in episodes I’d not yet seen. His older brother (they’re 7 and 12, respectively) called out from the other room, “Josh! SPOILERS!”
I have since started to catch up on episodes, and have promised that I’ll watch as much of the latest season as I can with them when I come to visit on Thanksgiving. I love being an uncle to these guys.
I went to Joann Fabrics this morning, because I really really REALLY needed a particular loom they sell, and a particular yarn, for a Christmas present I plan to make. Thankfully, they had both! One of each! I got the last loom on the display, and the last skein of yarn in the exact color I was looking for! Hooray!
Congrats!!! I know the feeling. I don’t think the nice HR lady could hear me literally jumping for joy when she offered me my current job, but she may just have been too polite to say so.
Years ago, late one night, Mr. S and I were driving home from someplace, and we’d gotten into an argument about something. About a mile from home (we live out in the sticks), our headlights lit up a black dog crossing the road with what appeared to be the bloody rib cage of a deer in its mouth. That rib cage had to be the same size as the dog.
We forgot what we were fighting about. That had to be one happy dog!
Today a potential client said she didn’t need me to send in any of the informational materials she’d requested in her ad, because she recognized my name from professional online forums and she would love to work with me. How cool is that?
HAHAHA! This reminds me of the time I was telling my mom about a research paper I was writing for school. I told her it was about euthanasia. She replied “What about them?”
I’ve worked at a lot of companies as a temp - there’s the odd company that just treats their temps like disposable employees, but I’ve learned that most of them treat temps so nicely - it’s quite gratifying.
Yay for you!
I made guacamole for the first time today - holy crap, all you guys weren’t kidding when you said it was easy and delicious! I will be buying fresh avocados again, my friends.
Earlier today I got a call from Special K, a woman I love very deeply but haven’t seen in over a year (900 miles apart + busy busy busy). She immediately started gushing about my first album, which had evidently just arrived. At one point she said “Listening to your album made me fall in love with you all over again.”
Up until that moment, I had always had those little doubts as to whether or not her feelings for me were as strong as my feelings for her. Hearing that phrase completely erased those doubts, and at the same time made me feel great about my abilities as a musician.
Gahr, I still grin like an idiot just thinking about it!
