You Gotta Love Good Customer Service

Being from a small town, I get to frequent locally-owned stores. There are great advantages to this but the most rewarding thing to me is the wonderful customer service I receive. This morning, I had three days worth of errands to run. (I've been home with a sick child for three days and today was her first day back at school.)

First stop, If It's Paper for birthday supplies for Millie's upcoming 4th birthday party. It's a Winter Wonderland Party. Not only was everything I purchased 50% off because it was considered Christmas, but I was able to catch up with the manager about her little girl who she adopted shortly after we adopted Millie. After a stop at the grocery, it was off to Carolina Girls for a Vera Bradley bag for my niece and a Webkinz for my other niece. Well, Webkinz were buy one get one free so I picked up a second one for Millie's birthday. There were three salespeople working and they all three spoke to me and offered a smile, even though they were also digging through an enormous shipment of boxes. From there, I had to go to Mount Pleasant Music to replace a book Jonathan lost earlier this year. He has a test tomorrow on it and it couldn't wait any longer. Well, wouldn't you know, they were out of the book I needed. But, Mike, the owner, offered to go get me one at a totally different music store tonight. Unfortunately, this will be too late for the test. So, he made a call to that store to see if they had it and is having them hold it for me. Have you ever? Well, I hadn't. This was the nicest thing any store owner had ever one for me. Next, I stopped off at Wild Birds Unlimited to look for some sort of seed house. You know, the houses that are actually made of seeds? The birds eat the whole thing. They had one but it wasn't what I wanted so I settled on a seed bell. After a 10 minute talk with the owner about her friend's bi-polar daughter and a current situation she's having right now, it was time to pick up Millie. (This is a good example of how we're put in the paths of others for a reason. I have a friend who has a family member who is bi-polar and I've heard her struggles. After admitting this to this woman, she talked and talked and talked. She was able to get so much off of her chest that she otherwise would have had to carry with her all day. I'm glad I was there; I hope it helped.)

Something tells me if I'd gone to chain stores for all of my needs thing would have turned out differently.

Me? Electronic Guru?

You've got to be kidding! I promise I'm not a live-your-life-by-your-horoscope person. But I do check it daily just to see. I don't believe horoscopes are any more than bendable predictions. That is, you can twist the meanings to fit any situation. So, I read it more for fun than anything else. And, as evidence to my belief, is today's horoscope. "You have an increased ability to understand electronics." Well, if you only knew how funny this was!

Last night I stole my husband's unused, for over a year now, iPod Shuffle. His brother gave it to him last year for Christmas and it never came out of the box. So, with my 7 year old getting an MP3 this year from Santa, and my 12 year old saving his money for a nearly $300 iTouch, I thought, "Why not? I should have one, too." So I downloaded the software. It was outdated (imagine that) and once running, it prompted me to upgrade. I plugged the thing into the USB port to charge and that's when my problems started. The light that's supposed to be on at this point wouldn't stay on. So I got my husband involved. He touched this, reconnected that, jiggled here, and jiggled there. All to no resolve. So I jiggled, touched and reconnected. And, the light stayed on! Then, an hour later, he turned the computer off...three hours before my charge was to be complete! Argh!

So, this morning I thought I'd try it again. Guess what? The light won't stay on! I jiggled. I reconnected. And, I touched so much of my CPU I think I violated my marriage vows. So, as anyone who obviously "has an increased ability to understand electronics" would do, I visited the Apple site. Went through some question and answer hubaloo that was supposed to solve all of my problems. It didn't. I'm pretty sure my battery is OK since the light is green when I push the battery button. I think my problem is that, for whatever reason, connecting the iPod to the USB doesn't automatically start the iTunes download. So, long story short, I have no way to download songs. Well, at least I tried. Maybe this increased knowledge will kick in by the end of the day and all will be solved.

How do You get where you're going?

This year, many folks received the gift of a Tom-Tom or a Magellan. These are GPS devices, for those of you who don't know. It seems like not long ago one was cutting-edge if she used Google Maps to find out how to get from here to there. But, alas, that's old school now. You're no one if you don't listen to the sweet sounds of the GPS mistress directing you through your day. Personally, I don't have one. I don't want one. And I find the whole thing rather silly. I suppose if I was a traveling salesperson, I may find it helpful. I'm beginning to think that these devices are part of a movement by "Geekies" to dumb up America, thereby solidifying their role as needed for years to come, as they'll be the only ones capable of doing anything anymore. It won't be long before we cannot read maps or communicate with others to find our way. And the ramifications of this are huge. Especially on our humanity. I am a big believer that we are put in the paths of others for reasons. (Call it witnessing, if you like.) Maybe because we have knowledge that they need. Maybe it's because of a shared experience. Maybe it is support. Maybe they just need a smile. Whatever reason, we're messing with the natural flow of the universe here people. Something tells me Tom-Tom and Magellan cannot offer the same warm-fuzzy feeling I get when a stranger smiles at me. The calm I feel and the calm I like to think I give others when I smile at them, which I do at my every chance. I like to make eye contact with people and extend a smile. Now, I won't say I haven't jumped on the impersonal bandwagon at all. I am a big internet/computer user. I choose it over the phone on many occasions. Heck, I even order my pizza online. So, I am guilty. But, for now, and hopefully for a long time to come, you will see me with a paper map or walking out of Gus' Stop 'n Shop, smiling the whole way.

...But I Don't Do Resolutions

My horoscope today said "Now is the time to make those resolutions you've been contemplating." I will say, there are a few changes I've been thinking I may want to make...but resolutions? I really don't do resolutions. It took me a long time to figure out "resolution" is another word for "slow failure." Sure, I've made years worth of resolutions, just like the next gal. And, I've lost sight of these resolutions long before the coming of Spring. There was one year that I did better than the rest. My resolution that year? To put myself first...or at least to think of myself more. I must say, this was a true challenge. Any mother can tell you that. We spend most, if not all, of our time putting everyone (and their needs) ahead of ourselves. It is natural but unhealthy. So this particular year, I became more selfish with myself and my time. I am still a damn good mother. I volunteer. I grocery shop. I feed my family well. I keep all of the clothes clean. But, I do not worry so much about how clean my house is. I do not hesitate to ask my husband for help. I do not try to do it all. I do look at myself in the mirror and find positives. I look at my family and my friends and see the reasons I love each of them. I review my life and realize how lucky I am.

But, I said there were some changes I'd like to make. Those are simple. I'd like to tend more to my friendships. Let those I love know it more often. I'd like to laugh out loud more and smile more at strangers. I'd like to keep singing at traffic lights, out loud for all it's worth. I want to make the joy in my life show to everyone I see. But these are all just changes, not resolutions. Because, I don't do resolutions.

Hard Heads Go Bump In The Morning

My husband and my middle child are so much alike it is scary! My mother-in-law says so and I see it, too. This may be why they clash so much. Both get an idea in their minds and don't let go, no matter what. So, it's no surprise that they often pick opposing ideas and stick to their guns, nearly always resulting in arguments. This morning was no different. You need to know that South Carolina is experiencing a very cold snap right now. It was in the teens (wind chill) this morning when Porter left to stand at the bus stop. He hates to wear a coat. Perhaps his coat isn't cool enough, perhaps he thinks he's too cool to protect his flesh from bone chilling temps, I don't know. But, he refused to wear a coat this morning. In anticipation of this repeating argument, Joe and Porter picked out his clothes last night. Two long-sleeved t-shirts and a hoody. Joe assumed Porter realized that all of this would be going under his coat. Porter was certain the coat would not be a part of his wardrobe. After some sharp discussion of the subject, Porter left for school in his sock hat, winter coat hanging in the closet.

As Joe learns to pick his battles, I hope Porter learns, soon, that being cold doesn't make you cool.

Hello 2008!

It is with fond farewell that we ushered out 2007 and welcomed in 2008. Obviously, by looking at the date of my last post, we've been quite busy. We accomplished so much this past year; celebrated to the fullest many occasions; lived the best we could. Regrets? We have a few. But, mostly, 2007 was a wonderful year full of second chances at life for a few family members and friends, deeper love in my marriage, a new decade of life for Joe and myself, many laughs with my kids, and a huge leap of faith toward realizing a dream.
December, alone, was probably the most elation-packed month of the year. Joe and I finally closed on a mountain home! This has been a dream of his for as long as I've known him (21 years). This dream became mine, too, after a few years of sharing his life. It took several years of serious looking to find the perfect place, but we did. The location couldn't be better and the house itself is great! We spent New Year's there with the kids and we all had a great time reconnecting. We don't have television so we spent a lot of time playing ping pong or board games, and talking. Even though the mortgage payments haven't yet started, it already feels like money well spent!
So, for 2008, we're very excited to see what awaits us in the North Carolina mountains. We named our cabin LeapStone as it is a huge leap of faith and a stepping stone towards dreams realized. I'll have to find a cocktail that signifies that sentiment...

Egads! Only a few weeks left!

On November 27, I turn 40. As I've mentioned before, I don't enter this new decade unwillingly or terrified. Instead, I'm running toward it. Embracing it. But still, I'm bringing with me much reflection. Some enter with a bang. They decide to do something grand. Some really large something to make a difference for them and perhaps someone else as well. Like a charity run...even more meaningful if they've never run before. Well, I'm not a runner and I don't think the time to start would be when I'm turning 40 since I'm already realizing I've got extra aches and pains in the mornings after laundry day from carrying those loads of laundry up and down my one flight of stairs. No, I won't be running. As a matter of fact, I'm not going to use the day to impose some sort of great meaning to this milestone. However, I will be reflecting on all the wonderful things the past 40 years have shown me. For now, here are 5 things for which I am forever grateful...
1. The memories I have of a yearly vacation to the Isle of Palms with my family and the fact that I now live just minutes from where that house stood. (Hurricane Hugo took her away but the memories are ever-lasting.) These trips began for me when I was in a crib and ended when I was in college.
2. Knowing I inherited my mother's looks and metabolism and my father's sense of humor and personality. My mother is very attractive and it is a good feeling when I catch a glimpse of her in my mirror. And, the fact that I've never had a struggle with weight is due to her genes. But, it was my father who taught me to not worry about every little thing and just be. And, for sure, he taught me that humor makes life more enjoyable.
3. My marriage. We've had 16 years of wedded bliss...or at least "blissish." It would be untrue to say it was always a walk in the park. But we were both committed and worked through the hard times and are happier today than any time in the almost 21 years we've been together. That's a great feeling.
4. My children. Jonathan, Porter and Millie give me reason to awake every morning. Hey, someone's gotta feed them! Watching Jonathan grow up, just about to enter his teen years, is challenging yet rewarding. Keeping my eye on Porter, trying to come up with new and innovative ways of teaching him right from wrong, keeps me on my toes and makes his hugs and "I love you"s even sweeter. And, waiting to hear what funny thing Millie will say next is a great way to turn a not so good day into the best yet.
5. All the travels I've been so lucky to take. Nova Scotia; Quebec; Montreal; St. Martin, FWI; Disney Cruise; Honolulu; Maui; not to mention a plethora of American cities! But the most rewarding trip had to be to China (Beijing, Changsha, and Guangzhou) to adopt Millie. What a beautiful country, people and event.

I know as the years continue to pass there will be more and more to join this list. And, honestly, I could have added more today but this entry was already long enough.