3 RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

Today was a wonderful day. I got up late feeling rested which is a great start. I went to my medical appointment which finished relatively quick, less than 30 minutes. Not to far from the grocery store I decided to pick up a few things. 

In the grocery store I shopped mindfully cogniscent that I had no help. My intention was to pick a little-1 bag. I thought I'd done admirably well until I began to pack my recycle bag. I was wrong. Stretched before me were a couple if bags worth of groceries sitting on the conveyer belt. I found one plastic bag in my shoulder bag and the cashier gifted me with other.

Outside I called home, my daughter didn't pick up so I text her to meet me by our bus stop because I needed help. On my way to the bus stop with the groceries bags in the cart I stopped an Afro-Caribbean woman on her way to the grocery and ask her to follow me and she can have my cart. She did and we chatted. She ask how I was going to manage and I told her my daughter would meet me on the other side. I hoped.

As we parted ways and I lifted my bags took two steps and my heaviest bag broke. I gasped and looked at it on the ground. It stood with one handle torn off. I could not left from the bottom up because of my injured left hand. The Afro-Caribbean woman came back. She stopped me from attempting to move the heavy bag, asked me where I lived and offered me a ride home. She did not allow me to do anything. She took the other bags from me and told me to sit in her car. I acquiesced and sat in the car. She loaded my bags and sat in the drivers seat. As she drove I asked her name (Megan). She dropped me at my home and forbid me to touch the bags as I called my daughter. 

My daughter appeared at the door with our grocery buggy. I was surprised and hanged up. I introduced her to Megan and together they loaded our buggy. She thanked Megan for helping me. 

I thanked Megan for her kindness and gave her the biggest hug.  She was a delight, beautiful and kind. My heart was full.

It is wonderful to be the recipient of kindness.

7 BEGGING WITH A COMPLIMENTARY FUCK YOU

Begging, there are all forms, from the eloquent (charity, fundraising, requests for donations) to the crass (the transient homeless, street kids delaying their travels etc.).  Many turn up their noses to the crassness laying judgments. I try not to take the path of judgment because truth be told we don't know the beginning, the middle or dare I say the end. We think we see the end result, the hands outstretched followed by the pleas for money. It's for the most part ineloquent yet extraordinarily effective  as it taps into ones compassion and empathy. Life can change swiftly and no one desires homelessness and poverty.

As far as panhandling goes I have seen and experienced my fair share. From the young man who made me laugh so hard my eyes water and my sides hurt when he begged me for 10 cents. "Ten cents! what can you do with 10 cents?" I had asked curiously incredulous. "Every penny counts, it all adds up" he says with a shy smile. It was such a joyous exchange that I emptied my change purse in his palm to amount of $5. It was all I had, the laughter was worth it. To the woman whose face I had to get up in because she snatched my daughter's drink out her hand when she was a child and started drinking, then had the balls to try and give it back to her. Perhaps one day I'll tell the two tales. Today though what I observed was a complex mix of hilarity yet not.

He walked a quick 1, 2, 3 , 4, 5 rhythmic back and forth to keep the cold at bay. Every so often he ran to catch a select person in the crowd of commuters to beg for money. Unsuccessful he grumbled. His guyanese accent pronounced as his frustration gave way to cursing them. He shoved his hands in his tweed dinner-like jacket grumbling of the cold. His linen pants hanged from his petite frame. On his head an aged ferdora hat sagged halfway down his forehead shadowing his aged brown face. On his feet a pair of slightly worn sneakers.

He appoached a Muslim woman cloaked in her hijab running along side her as she ran for her bus.

"Salam Alaikum, spare some change for a hot tea or coffee?"

"Wa-Alaikum Salaam, I am sorry I have no money." She replied.

"You a Muslim and you have no money? You a poor Muslim." He shouted as she raced away. Irritated he shoved his hands in his pocket as he tapped out his 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 rhythmic back and forth. He took a deep breath and ran into the moving crowd.

He approached a man that shut him down before he could finish. He yelled, "I don't talk to men anyway, you are a cunt." 

"Fuck you"

I almost laugh as I starred in fascinated horror observing as he cursed through people that refused him while I waited for my bus.  I've given him money in the past however this is the first time I've witnessed this aggressive almost willfully defiant approach.

I like the other commuters ran as I saw my bus pulled in to its designated area. I boarded to the distant sound of his Guyanese accent, "spare some change for a coffee or tea to warm meh belly."

4 LIFE WITH N BLACK AND WHITE CHALLENGE

Blessings. I trust you all are well and if not you remember that "trouble don't last always." This too shall pass.

Social media challenge.

I have been challenged on Twitter by my blog friend @toinlicious. The challenge"Life in black & white." More specifically, My life.

The Rules:

7 Days (1 week)

7 photos each day in black and white of your life.

No humans 

No explanation

Challenge someone new everyday

Here are my entries thus far:

DAY 1

DAY 2

 

DAY 3

 

DAY 4

 

DAY 5

DAY 6

DAY 7

2 LOVE WORKINGWITH MY HANDS

Green: Jade teardrop stones, peridot, swarovski crystals and sterling silver.


Blue: Agate stones set in sterling silver

It's been a while since I've made myself a pair of earrings. I found myself on two occasions last week up in the wee hours of the morning trying and failing miserably to capture the elusive sleep. In an attempt to occupy my mind I engaged in some creative activity and made two pairs earrings.

5 BOLD AS YOU PLEASE

It was a busy crowded morning on the subway on the last leg of my commute. Children approximately between the ages of 9-12  clustered on the bus platform for entry through the back doors. The line stretched on and curved back into the roofed part of the subway. The line for front door entry was just as long. I groaned inwardly looking ominously at the time-9:45 am, I start work at 10 am.

As we all stood in wait, we were slightly peppered by the drizzle that rode the wind. Mentally I had a conversation with God through prayer. Periodically in anxious anticipation and dread of the real possibility of being late 1 or 2 passengers gave up the wait and walked away seeking alternative means of getting to work. I took deep breaths an observed others as to not focus on the wait.

In visual pursuit of my surroundings I noticed a woman-Caucasian, late 40s to early 50s, muddy brown hair as strode confidential through the restricted area. She walked passed the warning signs that threatened a fine for trespassing and approached the man standing first in line. 

"Is this the 511 bus stand?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Thanks," she said and stood in front of him.

'Incredible' I thought as I surveyed the people around me. Some looked irritated by her bold unapologetic move. Some grumbled beneath their gums or to a person beside them while others gave her hustle steers. The bus finally pulled up opening it's doors. She boarded, confirmed with the driver the destination of the bus and promptly sat down unperturbed. 

I shook my head thinking, 'wow, she wheeled that entitlement like a pro' and no one said anything, including me. Why - I couldn't be bothered. I was more focused on reaching to work on time.