As a follow-up to my, Gun To Your Head Giving, piece, I want to share a thing or two.
I love to give. As I’ve said many times, generosity is the great elixir to personal pain, taking you out of yourself and all your woes without having to pop a pill, pour a drink or visit a phycologist who’s buying a house in the Hamptons with her holiday fees alone.
People who appear inconsequential in one’s life, are the ones who also make up its fabric.
They’re the ones my heart happily opens for.
There’s Charlotte, the Starbucks Barista who, if I’m looking a little sad, will present me with a complimentary slice of strawberry cheesecake, such a treat, especially at 5 in the morning.
Hand lotion might be nice for those working hands of hers.
Vivy, the shy girl at the all-night Duane Reade, I buy stamps from, always offering her one, she’ll take with a grin. I’m going to go to the post office and pick out a book of special stamps to place in a card, so she knows, she’s appreciated at 3 a.m. when I can’t sleep.
Then there’s the paperboy I’ve come to admire who shows up every day, hailing from the Bronx at 6, so we can have our Post, and New York Times. He’s a proud sort of kid, so a box of hand-warmers might be an appropriate gift, or socks, to offset the cold he stoically stands in.
Mustn’t forget spinach man at the local market, quiet and polite, very urbane in his pressed white coat and ponytail, held neatly back with a navy ribbon. “It’s fresh,” he’ll say, as he gives me a little extra as if he knows…table for one?
He’ll get a Starbucks card.
This is the group my heart sings Joy To The World to.
They’re humble, helpful and happy, just to be a part of our world.
Dolphins, not sharks, swimming serenely in our midst, smiling at the mere sight of you.
For them, I rejoice.
SB
So nice !
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Like you. 🙂
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I got stuck at “Starbucks has strawberry cheesecake and I don’t know about it?” You are right though. When I worked I gave gifts to the mail room folks who bent over backwards and the guard who helped me carry stuff. The people who did their job with joy and gave joy in doing it. Those were the fun gifts compared to the “gun to the head” gifts to the execs who had more money than God.
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Hear Hear Kate. Occasionally it’s blueberry. 🙂
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Those are REAL gifts. Way to go Susannah. 😉
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You mean, as opposed to money stuffed in an envelope? Yes, at least there’s thought behind them rather than a teller asking, how would you it? 10s and 20s, or one big bill?
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Giving or getting an unexpected gift is the best. Especially when there is thought behind it. My father was a mailman for a couple of years during my early teens. He has a giant sweet tooth and rejoiced at the little bags of homemade Christmas cookies every bit as much as the cards with checks enclosed.
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I’m with you Skinny. I gave my mailman 20 bucks and a pair of Gap Socks. He kissed me wishing me a Happy Hannukkah. LOL
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Until I read this post, I forgot about the community one can have in a big city. We give unsolicited gifts to the newspaper guy and the mailman, but we don’t interact often with others. The exception is a marvelous cashier at the supermarket. We gave her something for Reformation, and she was delighted. If I tipped the garbageman, it would be John. We don’t have garbage pickup here. We share doorman duties. It warms my heart to read about all the people you are so kind to. God bless you!
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But giving to them is fun because they really appreciate it and are always totally surprised, unlike those who expect it…like to shoot them all. As we speak, I’m filling envelopes. sigh
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Would you allow me to sigh with you? *sigh*
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The sigh that could be heard around the world. 🙂
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I think little gifts like that are what makes life sweeter. Good for you for thinking of those people. 🙂
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You’re pretty thoughtful yourself.
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You know the meaning of Christmas!
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Just call me Mrs. Claus. I hope you, Teddy and Jack have a peaceful, happy holiday. Deck those halls Patricia.
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Hi Susannah,
I can relate. There are the people that I love to give and go out of my way to bring a smile to their faces; and then there are the ones that I give because I have to. I am forcing myself to give with a smile and with love in my heart, but it takes effort.
I wish you a blessed and peaceful Christmas! 🙂
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And to you too. You’re so kind, and I know, that you operate strictly from the heart. 🙂
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I smiled from top to bottom. It makes me so happy knowing how you brightened the day for these fine folks.
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I gave a Panera card to Julio who works at Jackie’s former church, and he cried. My doormen? Only one said thank you along with Danny, the mailman, who wished me a Happy Chunukkuh. Lol
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Ah, we all have those special soldiers who are there, through thick and thin, in some way, to brighten up our days. Even if I don’t remember them now, I would miss them if they were gone. I just had a relatively new friend, cashier at my local Cracker Barrel who left and he will really be missed by me. That is one of many. I know of what you speak.
Scott
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He sounds like my spinach man.
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Yes, a lot like him.
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What a nice comparison.
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🙂
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