Enjoying so much having my out-of-town sister-not-by-blood here. Encouragement. Much laughter and such joy. I told her the first night after she got here I felt so relaxed. I was able to lean on her, telling her in person things I've only written down. She's such a gift, to me and also my family. I've not told her this, but someone at church today asked if she was a relative, thinking we all favored. She'll like that.
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Rested for a bit after services, then went by myself to the library used bookstore. Saw a woman from church there in the lobby, who I've never really talked to before, and she told me she was there for a quilting get-together. Loved the spontaneity of that. Then as we separated after chatting for a minute, she told me how beautiful my girls are and the sweet man who is so nice to us at the bookstore walked by and said he agreed very much. We're there a lot.
I'm having more of these sorts of situations lately. Just padding for my spirit. Gentleness and kind words in midst of the sometimes nightmare of my life.
So, as I was browsing, the same man talked to me from time time and we chatted about the music they play in there. He has his own playlist---lots of old tunes and very easy to listen to music from my/our generation. I mentioned his Joni Mitchell being on the other day, when he wasn't there. He walked off and visited with some other customers and after a few minutes the Joni Mitchell began to play. He'd put it on for me. Then he came over again and said he'd mix me a disk of her music. Amazing. I asked what I could bring (like a package of disks), and he said just myself to pick it up, at my convenience. And as I was checking out, another song came on. I asked him what it was and he said Answers by Sarah McLaughlin, and he'd put her on the disk as well.
Yesterday, oldest daughter was in there, and he gave her a beautiful copy of an Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She met his wife, and he talked of his daughter.
Some folks have the gift and the time to share a generous spirit as they come alongside of you. I want to be one of those who can stop everything and really listen. Sometimes it's an effort, mostly because I'm not much of a people person. It's more common of people to listen to you all the the while they're moving onto the next thing. It's that mindfulness thing again.
