I joined my husband who was attending a conference in St. Johns. I try to pack light and realized when I got there that my only pair of slacks were missing a crucial button.
My husband dropped my off at the Avalon Mall and told me he'd join me later. After seeking a place that sells buttons with no luck, I was directed to a Stitch It store. The 2 women who worked there asked me to give over the slacks and wait in the change room. Searching my purse there, I realized that I left my wallet in the hotel room. The women smiled when I told them that I would have to wait for my husband to pay. "No charge" they both said with a smile, "don't worry about it". When my husband finally showed up, I tried to pay again but the ladies just said "welcome to Newfoundland".
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Help for veteran on US Memorial Day
We are on a driving holiday in the American southwest and stopped for the afternoon at a Holiday Inn Express in Alamosa Colorado. This is a small town that serves a large ranch and farming community that surrounds it. As we left our rental car, we saw 3 police cars and an older man leaning on an aluminum crutch, with a disheveled appearance wearing a cap with "Vietnam Vet" on the brim. We checked in at the desk and asked about the man. She said she was hoping that the police would take him to a shelter. Someone had dropped him off at the hotel, and the Alamosa police refused to help, saying they were not a taxi service. The clerk phoned her husband and best friend who came over and took the veteran to a VA facility in the next town and let his family know where he is now. The clerk said she could not understand why the police would abandon a man who needs help especially on Memorial Day.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Kindness as an aspect of national culture
My husband, Harold and I took a trip to New Zealand a few months ago. The New Zealand trip had 2 parts: we drove around in a rental car on the North Island for 2 weeks and then we boarded a cruise ship to see the South Island for another week. The cruise ship sailed to Australia after New Zealand but that's another story.
Harold planned the driving trip using information he found on many sites on the web. What a great source of information because he did not steer us wrong once. We stayed in a series of clean, comfortable motels taking a circular route.
New Zealand is a country that orients itself to the needs of ordinary people. There are clean accessible bathrooms at no cost in towns and villages and at regular intervals along the 2 lane highways. Every town has free attractions e.g. all museums and art galleries are free, as well as wonderful paid attractions too. No one uses their horns on the highways becauses there are long passing lanes every 10 km where slower drivers can pull in so that others can pass. There is no advertising for anything on the roads so you can count on useful information when you spot a sign, (sometimes too late to make the turn). There are no overhead wires or cell towers on the highways, just an unencombered view of the beautiful rolling hills, the sheep and the sea.
In the evening, we would watch local TV and read local newspapers. There were no murders, assaults, or robberies in the 3 weeks we visited. We saw programs lauding the work of volunteers: rural fire fighters, SPCA volunteers nights and weekends, sport coaches and parks guides . These programs were documentaries, showing what these volunteer did and encouraged others to play their part but no pressure.
The motel owners, usually a husband and wife went out of their way for us. One woman drove her car to the area where restaurants were located in town for us to follow her. Another motel owner offered her washer, clothesline and pins to me. Another woman who was our waitress at a motel resturant phoned her cousin in the next town to assure us a visit to a Maori village.
In Canada, we say we are interested in the well being of our native people but in New Zealand, all public buildings and many private businesses as well have signs first in Maori language and then in English.
If you want to travel to New Zealand, you should also be aware that food is expensive even in the summer because there is a high minimum wage for all. No tips are expected because everyone, including waiters makes a fair wage.
I think that New Zealand might be an ante room to heaven.
Harold planned the driving trip using information he found on many sites on the web. What a great source of information because he did not steer us wrong once. We stayed in a series of clean, comfortable motels taking a circular route.
New Zealand is a country that orients itself to the needs of ordinary people. There are clean accessible bathrooms at no cost in towns and villages and at regular intervals along the 2 lane highways. Every town has free attractions e.g. all museums and art galleries are free, as well as wonderful paid attractions too. No one uses their horns on the highways becauses there are long passing lanes every 10 km where slower drivers can pull in so that others can pass. There is no advertising for anything on the roads so you can count on useful information when you spot a sign, (sometimes too late to make the turn). There are no overhead wires or cell towers on the highways, just an unencombered view of the beautiful rolling hills, the sheep and the sea.
In the evening, we would watch local TV and read local newspapers. There were no murders, assaults, or robberies in the 3 weeks we visited. We saw programs lauding the work of volunteers: rural fire fighters, SPCA volunteers nights and weekends, sport coaches and parks guides . These programs were documentaries, showing what these volunteer did and encouraged others to play their part but no pressure.
The motel owners, usually a husband and wife went out of their way for us. One woman drove her car to the area where restaurants were located in town for us to follow her. Another motel owner offered her washer, clothesline and pins to me. Another woman who was our waitress at a motel resturant phoned her cousin in the next town to assure us a visit to a Maori village.
In Canada, we say we are interested in the well being of our native people but in New Zealand, all public buildings and many private businesses as well have signs first in Maori language and then in English.
If you want to travel to New Zealand, you should also be aware that food is expensive even in the summer because there is a high minimum wage for all. No tips are expected because everyone, including waiters makes a fair wage.
I think that New Zealand might be an ante room to heaven.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Kindness on a Snowy Day
Toronto received a rather large snowfall overnight, coating the roads and sidewalks with a deep fluffy white blanket. I was trying to walk home early this morning from the Y along Bay Street. Some of the buildings were fronted with cleared sidewalks but most were not. Two men were clearing the sidewalk in front of a new block-long condo. I heard one man tell the other to be especially careful to clear up to the kerb for the pedestrians because some of the trucks make turns without recognizing that there is a sidewalk there under the snow. He pointed out the truck tire marks to his colleague on the sidewalk at the corner of the street. They both then put their shoulders to the work and cleared their sidewalks with compassion for the pedestrians who might encounter a turning truck.
Further down the street, I observed a woman using a walker slowly trying to navigate the snowy sidewalk. Most of the pedestrians quickly passed her except for one younger woman whom I overheard saying to the struggling woman. "I will walk beside you until you get there just in case the snow gets worse than this".
I appreciate all the people who take the time and energy to make life easier fo the rest of us.
Further down the street, I observed a woman using a walker slowly trying to navigate the snowy sidewalk. Most of the pedestrians quickly passed her except for one younger woman whom I overheard saying to the struggling woman. "I will walk beside you until you get there just in case the snow gets worse than this".
I appreciate all the people who take the time and energy to make life easier fo the rest of us.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Good King Wenselas
Every Christmas season, I look forward to hearing the Christmas carol, Good King Wenselas because his character inspires kindness. The other carols focus on the miracles and hopes of this season or event lost loves for my Christian friends. But this carol teaches me what it means to live the life of a good leader, a good Christian. When I was a student, we studied the ancient stories about kings to figure out the values at that time. Those naratives linked the fullness of the harvest to the king's bounty in fishing or the freedom and independence of the tribe to the king's ability to fight and prevail with monsters. When I hear Good King Wenselas, I am reminded about the power of kindness as an inspiration to a society that cares for everyone who struggles.
I have friends who volunteer in the Out of the Cold programs, in Habitat for Humanity, at St. Francis Table and Foodshare. For me, they are modern examples of that medieval king. May we each find a powerful example of kindness in our lives that we can follow.
I have friends who volunteer in the Out of the Cold programs, in Habitat for Humanity, at St. Francis Table and Foodshare. For me, they are modern examples of that medieval king. May we each find a powerful example of kindness in our lives that we can follow.
Monday, December 3, 2012
The beautiful orange 4-day hat
I visited the One of a Kind craft show last week with a neighbour. It was so inspiring to see creative work made by so many talented crafts people from chocolates to toys, from lamps to dresses. A warm knitted wool tam, bright orange and oversized attracted my attention. I tried it on and my friend and I thought it looked just super.
I wore it every day thereafter even when the weather was too warm. On Sunday, when it was too warm in the car, I took the tam off and put it on my lap along with my husband's favourite hat. I had to jump out ot the car quickly to pick up some supplies in a local store, forgot about the hats and they were gone from the sidewalk by the time I remembered.
This story about kindness is really about my husband. I lost his hat too but he has not complained about my carelessness once. He commiserated with me instead about my lost orange hat and agrees it was terrific to have such a wonderful hat if only for a few days. I am so grateful for his kindness.
I wore it every day thereafter even when the weather was too warm. On Sunday, when it was too warm in the car, I took the tam off and put it on my lap along with my husband's favourite hat. I had to jump out ot the car quickly to pick up some supplies in a local store, forgot about the hats and they were gone from the sidewalk by the time I remembered.
This story about kindness is really about my husband. I lost his hat too but he has not complained about my carelessness once. He commiserated with me instead about my lost orange hat and agrees it was terrific to have such a wonderful hat if only for a few days. I am so grateful for his kindness.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
More advice on growing while growing old
The advice below is from my friend, Bernie's mom, Kitty, who is well over 90 years and enjoying every minute:
When your back hurts, keep moving.
When your feet hurt, keep moving.
When you are dizzy and need a cane, grab it and keep moving.
If you are in a wheelchair, make the parts of your body that still work, keep moving.
Keep dancing.
A smile is so infectious that you can catch it like the flu. When someone smiles at me, I start smiling too.
This advice, gleaned from other wise people, is from Shelia, my younger sister's best friend:
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life: Define yourself. Harevey Fierstein
Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values. The Dalai Lama
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Carl Bard
When the heart grieves over what it has lost, the spirit rejoices in what it has left. Sufi saying.
When your back hurts, keep moving.
When your feet hurt, keep moving.
When you are dizzy and need a cane, grab it and keep moving.
If you are in a wheelchair, make the parts of your body that still work, keep moving.
Keep dancing.
A smile is so infectious that you can catch it like the flu. When someone smiles at me, I start smiling too.
This advice, gleaned from other wise people, is from Shelia, my younger sister's best friend:
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life: Define yourself. Harevey Fierstein
Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values. The Dalai Lama
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Carl Bard
When the heart grieves over what it has lost, the spirit rejoices in what it has left. Sufi saying.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)