April 2009 Archives

My friend Amy told me of an incident at one of the Wendy's restaurants recently. She said it must have been a time for trainees, and maybe the trainers or managers were having a case of spring fever, since the service was at a turtle's pace. And the competence level had also taken a vacation that evening. Amy said, she was even getting a little impatient, as well as, well, hungry.

There was a young family in front of her and she said the younger of the two children, maybe 2 1/2 or 3 was getting restless and not unruly, just maybe irritable and acting out from the wait in line.

Amy, who has four great kids herself, completely understood, and thought little of it. She decided to take a quick break in the rest room, and while she was in there, mom and restless little guy were in there. What made Amy's "heart jump" was the way the mom was handling the situation.

She said there was the mom, crouched down on the little boy's level, looking him in the eye, and clutchig both his little hands and lovingly telling him that he needed to be a "nice young gentleman" while he was in line. She told him he needed to stand still and use his "inside voice" while they were waiting for their food.

When Amy went back out to the restaurant, she said the little guy and mom/little life coach had joined the dad and the sibling in line, and he must have taken his mom's "advice" as he waited respectfully for their order.

Amy was so impressed that the mom had #1, taken the boy quietly out of public, and gave him a good life lesson, without humiliating him or making him feel like he was a "bad" boy, and #2, this was obviously a pattern since the young man instantly "got it."

I think most of us have seen distraught parents yank their kids' arms, while yelling, or worse, just standing and screaming at them. Or my favorite, "cussing them out." I'm a mom of three grown kids, and trust me, I got as frustrated as everyone, but this young mom was the epitome of how I wish everyone would handle like situations.

So apparently, there were more "happy meals" all around that day because of the way a young mom conducted herself. The prize wasn't in with the bag of food. It goes to parents everywhere who take parenting seriously, even when it's not easy or convenient. And if you happen to be this mom, give yourself a good pat on the back!

Was at one of my favorite places the other day, the puppy park at John Rudy Park. You get to see pure joy at its finest. When dogs are out just hangin' with each other, running and just being dogs, it is SOO cool to watch! The dogs don't seem to notice color, breed, weight, or what kind or color collar the other dogs are wearing. They're there to meet some new buddies, without discrimination. Or as in the case of our dog, he wants new people to meet him , admire him, pity him for the "tough" life he leads (what a con artist), and then he'll get around to the other dogs. But it's the Cheers Bar for York County dogs.

Anyway, there was a lady sitting on a park bench, IN the middle of the Dog Park, which is clearly defined, well, by dogs, and their "gifts" to the earth, and by signs regarding dogs all over the place. If that's not enough to delineate where dog freedom begins and ends, the fence is another pretty good indicator. The pony-sized great dane that was there was another clue that this is where the big dogs hang out.

The woman was sitting on said park bench when a little beagle jumped up on her lap, sending her flying to her feet and yelling, "No, No, I'm a cat person!"

Several thoughts came to mind. Was she a secretly Cat Woman, was she unaware that the dogs that were frolicking literally all over the place were actually canines, not felines, or was she just taking a survey to see if dogs really do hang at the dog park. Or was she protesting the fact that there is no such park for cats in our area?

Still scratching my head on this one, but it did give me a laugh for the day.

I'm not sure if other schools do things this way, but as a grandma, it's been awhile since my kids were in school so I may not be as "up" on things.

Valley View Early Learning Center in the York Suburban school district has one of the most efficient student pick up and drop off I've ever seen.

Parents, or Grammys like me, form a line of cars at the door where students are picked up and delivered. Buses go first, and then it's first come, first served. You pull up, sort of like you're orderig a mcburger, give the name of your child, and a teacher's aide goes into the building, gets the child and escorts him or her directly to your car. They even then help to buckle them into their car seats.

No chaos, no near-accidents, no swarm of parents, or grammies all trying to collect their kids all at once. The aides themselves are wonderful, cheerful and efficient. The system is pretty awesome, and is worth noting. This took some thought as well as orchestration. Cheers!!

I was dropping off some things for Crickettinis for a Cure Charity Event for this Friday, and dropped in on a friend who is the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) director. CASA for children exists to prevent foster and abused kids from falling through the cracks of an overburdened court system.

For several years, I worked across the hall from her, and I knew how dedicated and passionate she's always been about CASA. I believe it takes special people to run the agency, and it also involves many very dedicated volunteers. As Wanda put it though, we wish we'd be put out of business!

Like many human service positions, it is stressful in more ways than one. In all the years I worked across from the CASA office, I never witnessed the stress getting to any of the workers. The seemed dedicated to the children, and Wanda just seemed always 110% efficient, capable and unrattled by the many situations that had to be handled.

So when I visited her yesterday, I saw another side of her that was pretty awesome. She has developed a passion for finding seaglass that washes up on ocean beaches. Beautiful, beautiful pieces, which she has turned into jewelry, which I found to be stunning. I fell in love with a soft aqua colored piece, which she told me had once been part of a classic coke bottle from roughly 20 years ago. It was just beautiful!

And I guess the best part of it was listening to Wanda tell about her love of walking the beach and discovering the sea glass, and her eyes lighting up when she recounted some of her experiences. She said the sound of the waves and the peacefulness of the beach relax her down several notches. She told me of the day that a fully formed seahorse washed up right at her feet. The seahorse had already lived its life apparently, because it was just the shell, but what a life savoring moment that had to be!

I loved seeing this other side, and hearing her talk about the serene beauty of her newfound hobby was a moment of peace and happiness for me as well.

I saw it, I wanted it, and I was gonna have it!! And I wasn't going to pay for it.

That's exactly what I did. I took it, and didn't pay a dime. And I have no regrets or conscience about it. If I get caught, I'm not afraid, and will not be calling any lawyer.

The only thing I did need was a little card, not a credit card, thank goodness. I needed my library card.

And I walked out of that beautiful building with not just one, but several books, all for free. I was going to travel to other places and times, and not leave my armchair. I needed no remote control anything. Good thing, because prying it out of my husband's hands is an aerobic exercise that requires strategy, even if he's asleep.

Our library system is just the best bargain in the entire county, state, country, whatever. You can actually walk out of there with a book that would cost $30 or so if you wanted to own it, which I don't. If I read it once, I want to move on. Look, it's not the book, it's me, I just don't want to be locked into a relationship with a book. So I can use 'em, then toss them back--I love that! And when I return them, I get to take home even more.

The books alone have been enough to keep me going back from the time I was a little kid. Martin Library was our big, big "field trip," for those of us at Franklin School back in the '50's. Our transportation was our own little mary janes, or oxford shoes or loafers, or for those of us with problem feet, corrective shoes. (UGH, I still have nightmares about them!) Anyway, we'd walk two by two until we got to the magical storehouse of everything we could want. It planted a seed early, but I still get the same thrill, only magnified, when I enter the magical place now.

The world is truly contained, yet limitless at the library. Computers, videos available for just a small fee, programs, a place that welcomes kids, could there be anything better, recession or not.

And the staff at the library has always, always treated me like royalty. How can they do that? I'm not giving them any money, I'm sure they're not getting rich from their salaries, and there are some volunteers making zero dollars, and yet they treat the customers or clients like we're all doing them a favor.

If you haven't been in there for awhile, try it on for size now. Don't bother taking a lot of money. The addition that was built has added light and beauty. Even when the economy rights itself, you may still be hooked on what is there for you, free of charge, but not free of excitement and possibility. You won't be sorry, I promise.

Books, DVD's, magazines. CHECK IT OUT!

Crickett Julius was someone I would really like to have known.
From what others say about her though, it's easy to sort of feel like I did know her.

Her life was shortened by a deadly disease that still affects far too many of us, breast cancer. But it would be a shame to remember her for what took her life. So Cricket's Answer for Cancer , a non-profit organization devoted to celebrate women are are fighting that fight is just that --celebration, tribute, and moving forward to make the cure bigger than the disease.

Crickett's mom, Bonnie Julius, said "Cricket would help anyone she could. At work, she would treat everyone the same from the janitor to the president." Crickett's friends still keep in touch with Bonnie, and they tell her they want "to make themselves as Crickett-like as they can." What a legacy!

A friend of Crickett and Bonnie both, Terry Baker recounted a story of a day when Bonnie who suffers from severe vertigo needed to be taken to the ER from work. Terry and others got her there safely, and Crickett sent THEM flowers for being there for her mom since she lived out of state. Terry said "she had a smile for everyone, and when she talked to you, it's as if you were the only one in the room."

Crickett's Answer for Cancer has a website, coincidentally, www.cricketsanswerforcancer.org which has items you can purchase that will help support women who are battling the monster. The site is dedicated to supplying sources and resources that will make life better for those women. Even if you want to go there to see Crickett's picture, in which her eyes dance, you'll likely "catch her joy."

ALSO on Friday April 17, Crickettinis for a Cure Charity Event will be held at the Yorktown Hotel from 5-8 pm.

The Yorktowne will be donating 50% of your purchases during this event to Crickett's Answer for Cancer.

For those who did know Crickett, this will be a good tribute, for those who will benefit, it'll be a great way to honor her, and at some point, someone we know or love will be affected by this horrible disease, so it is a way to keep her personality, her lovely traits and her giving spirit alive.

This is a win-win, to honor a lady we wish were still here. But as her mom says, "I always feel she's smiling down on us, and she is a great strength to me."

And with chuckles, several people recounted that she was a huge clothing and shoe maven. Even that's probably a connection to many of us!

I'd been overcharged on a few items at the Giant in Windsor Commons, but that's not the issue.

When I went back to the store to have it taken care of, there was such a capable young lady behind the customer service desk, I have to report on the experience. Amanda was like an octopus-like customer service rep as she took care of several of us almost simultaneously. There was a LOT going on. She never got ruffled, and everyone went away with their issue or purchase taken care of, including me.

Also, along came Summer who was equally pleasant and efficient and helped with my transaction.

These were both young women, and I believe young'uns get a bad rap all too often. So, "I gotta be me," and pass along good customer service. Cheers Amanda and Summer!!

I went to Commerce Bank on the corner of haines Rd and Mt Rose Avenue to purchase savings bonds as birthday presents.

A very nice young man, Adam, helped me through the process--did you know there are two kinds now? I remember from my own experience when I was young, how exciting getting a savings bond was.

Adam executed the whole process very smoothly and with great customer service, and took excellent care of this grammy who was looking to invest in some grandsons' futures.

Thank you Adam, you made it easy and painless!

Here in York County, we have our own little reality show. The Amazing Race takes place on a little old route we like to call '83. Contestants take on the task of getting from destination A to B, somewhat intact, still surrounded by their vehicle. Being reality, of course, it is not just a straight shot.

All entrants are encouraged to make the race as interesting as possible which means zipping, clipping and cutting. And just like in Candyland, there's a swamp or two thrown in, i.e. the Market Street Exit, Entrance ramp. Now this is the joke of the show, thrown into entertain. Get this--drivers are actually supposed to get off '83 and ON '83 on the SAME ramp. (guffaw is appropriate here) Mindreading is the best tactic, since you really must anticipate what all the other drivers are going to do with this ramp. The cameras are always fixed on this part, since it is the most entertaining part of the game.

Well I personally must declare a winner the other day. There was a female driver in a maroon colored Kia Sedona that had several passengers. Her license plate started with YKX, I believe. This driver, actually used her turn signal, and waited until there was enough room in front of my car to come over to the lane safely. She deftly maneuvered her vehicle in front of me, without cutting me off, giving me a heart attack, or causing me to slam the brakes, emergency-style..

This woman, obeyed traffic laws, but more than that, exuded courtesy and concern for other drivers. I feel honored to have been one of them.

Hers was a landmark decision, one that you just hardly ever see anymore! I sure hope you read this lady driver. You were not only a life savor for me that day, but think of the lives you probably have already saved!!

We are blessed with a wonderful mail carrier, Julie Koble. She always goes above and beyond by doing small things that mean a lot. My father, who has trouble seeing, is the official mail person in the household. His job is to put mail out and retrieve it. He doesn't always see all that's in the box, however, so the simple act of putting a rubber band around the mail has stopped the accidents where some of the mail has fallen out and has gotten blown around.

We know for a fact too, that Julie "checks" on her clients that she knows may live alone or have physical challenges. I know she doesn't consider herself as anything special, but she is, at least to those of us on her route.