Of all the pieces of our "Welcome Neighbor" installation, the Good Things/Message Jar was something I almost left out. I asked myself: Am I overdoing success?; Will anyone take the time to stop and write?; Am I expecting too much?; and, on and on. I'm glad I didn't. It's become fun to read the expressions, messages, and rhetorical questions I've found in the jar at the end of the day.
But, that's not all After a day away at substituting yesterday; last night sweetened tremendously. It began from the sofa with the television (yes, the television) on:
That Sam has become a guard cat. I've always said she's more like a dog. (It must have come from living with our wonderful Dali all of her life.) Asleep on my chest, her ears perked up and she jumped to the floor poised and focused. I saw her looking at the door and asked her what she saw? In no time, there was a knock and two young people stood at the door smiling.
I went out to the porch to huge thanks and hugs from this sweet brother-sister duo. Each had taken a book and this 6th grade girl had scooped the only "O" magazine I had. (Note to self: see if Kat has any back issues and begin to by the new ones regularly.) The young man had a book that was more of a woman's book, and I offered to show him the one that was more of a crime mystery. Turns out, the book was a gift to his Mom so it was perfect. He also took the crime mystery along.
We walked and talked our way down our long sidewalk out to the table where the fresh bag of candy had disappeared in less than an hour. We talked about: school; where they lived; what they liked; a little of my story; and, then I asked them if they had any ideas for the kinds of things I could lay out on the table that would be better than candy, but not too expensive? So now, I'm on a quest for small school supplies-pencils, little note books, erasers, pencil sharpeners, and whatever else I can be creative with. Small toys were mentioned, but I'm thinking that we have a treasure trove in the basement. I'm going to have to get Mom involved here to ask permission, but I'd bet that would be a good thing. I invited them to stop back by any time.
We said goodbye to more hugs and thank yous on all sides, before the day's dynamic duo ran off down Elizabeth in the direction of home. Little did they know the special magic and sweetness they brought to my day.