simple acts of kindness

So before Christmas break I started reading the book Pay it Forward. Sadly, I don't even think I made it through chapter one (even though it was with me at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Interntional Airport for 22 hours). But from what I hear, the premise of the book is doing something that's just simply kind to someone else and then that person does something kind for another person and the whole thing keeps snowballing. Well, I experienced some simple acts of kindness today. Here's my story.

It all started this morning when, not only did I leave early for school, but I also made it across the bridge in a good time. (First time all week due to freezing fog.) So I decided to stop at the gas station down the street from the school for a French vanilla capuccino for then and a Snapple for later. Went in, got my coffee (filled it probably a little too full), paid my bill, and headed back out to the car. As I pulled into the driveway, my purse fell over and I heard something hit the door.

When I parked the car, I leaned over to try to feel along the side. I wanted to make sure it wasn't my cell phone. Couldn't find anything. As I sat back up, I realized I had knocked my too-full cup of capuccino all over the center thing-a-ma-bob in my car. Fortunately, it all landed neatly in this little plastic console thing and not all over the floor or my freshly dry-cleaned wool coat. Needless to say, I was irritated. I hardly ever get to stop for coffee and I was really looking forward to this one today.

Went in the school, grabbed a roll of paper towels, some wipes, and a bag and headed back out to the car. As I'm sopping up the mess, our office manager, Chris, comes up and asks if I need any help. I told her, "No, I'm just cleaning up the coffee that I knocked over." I thought it was sweet of her to even stop by. After staff devos, I'm in the office telling my story. I also told about the time last year I knocked a capuccino all down inside my bookbag. Children's spelling assignments. . .totally ruined. Teacher's manuals. . .a little browner. You get the idea.

Everyone is kinda chuckling and I'm just filling my water bottle. Still irritated that I don't have any coffee and thinking that I'm going to have to open up that Snapple a little earlier than originally planned. Well, about 9:00 or so, in walks Chris with a Starbucks cup. She smiles and says, "I heard you like vanilla, so I got you a vanilla latte." Starbucks! Not even the cheap-o $1.29 for a 16 oz. down at the Chevron. I went on and on for like five minutes about how nice that was and how she didn't have to do that and how she made my day. (She was a great object lesson for 2nd graders.)

Earlier this week I got my hair wacked. Now most of you know that God "blessed" me with bone straight hair. There's not an ounce of curl in it and I fought with it for 20-25 minutes every morning just to get that little flippy-do. Well, I've decided to embrace the straight and go with it. And boy is it straight. I received lots of compliments this week from lots of people. I've been told it fits my face perfectly. It's trendy. Kids at school I don't even know yet told me they like it. Even the girl at Fred Meyer said it was cute when I was in there buying (none other than) a flat iron to make it even straighter. The best compliment (I think?) came today from one of my parents who at dismissal time wanted to know if I'd lost weight - or if it was just my new shorter hair. Well, hey, anytime anybody wants to know if you've lost weight, it's definitely an act of kindness.

Then tonight, after dinner out with my hubs, we get home and our outside lights on our entire building are out. AGAIN. I've called. I've complained. It's really creepy dark up those steps. There could be a serial killer out there some morning and I wouldn't even know it because you can't see a darn thing. (Seriously, Orchard Pointe People, why can't you keep these things on?) Phil digs around in his pocket, pulls out and gives me his keys, leaves the car running with the headlights on so I can see to walk up the stairs and unlock the door. So, so, so sweet. When he came in, I put my arms around his neck and said, "This and a million other reasons just like it are why I love you so much."

So now I guess I've got to pay it forward. I'll have to figure out what that may be. Simple acts of kindness. Try it. You might like it.