The Little Things Can Mean A Lot

Reminiscing about a day a few years back:

“Bye, Mom,” I heard my daughter yell as she went out the front door.

“Have a good day,” I sleepily heard myself reply.

A few minutes later I felt my husband sitting on the side of the bed. “It’s 7 o’clock. Time to get up. There’s coffee made.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled. As I lay in bed, I thought, “what will I write my column on today? Thanksgiving is coming. Maybe something on Thanksgiving. I remember one of my favorite columns – one I wrote at Thanksgiving time some years ago. I designed a test and invited the reader to figure out if he or she was a turkey.”

I put my feet on the floor and walked to the window. A lot of leaves were hanging tight on the oak trees, I thought. “I wonder if they will be able to hang on until January?”

It looked cold outside. I felt warm in my robe that I have had for a million years.

I went into the bathroom and got out a new tube of toothpaste. The water ran from the faucet as I swished and brushed.

I went downstairs and fixed the cat a piece of banana and poured myself a cup of coffee. I swung open the refrigerator and grabbed an orange.

As I ate my orange, I flipped through the newspaper. Outside I saw a squirrel jump from one big tree to another. I poured myself a second cup of coffee.

The telephone rang. It was my mother. Did I know what the boys wanted for Christmas? We chatted for a few minutes. She filled me in on what she and my dad had done the past weekend. I then went back to reading. The phone rang again. It was a friend calling. She kidded me about sleeping late. As we talked, I filled up the dishwasher and straightened the kitchen. I opened the freezer and pulled out a chicken for dinner. Chicken and dumplings tonight.

On days I write, I follow a little rule. I must be seated in front of the computer screen by 8:30 A.M. It was getting close to 8:30 and I still hadn’t figured out my Thanksgiving column.

I decided to throw a load of clothes in the washing machine. Then I made the bed. I started to put away a new pair of earrings that were laying on the dresser. On second thought, I put them on. I decided that they looked great with my pajamas.

I had to pass my daughter’s room to get to my office and the waiting computer. I found myself in her room, making her bed. She’ll be surprised, I thought. I smiled when I saw that she had put a light over her hermit crabs so they would stay warm.

I had an idea. I left her room and opened up the laptop.

I started… Things to be thankful for: hot coffee, toothpaste, animals, trees, the telephone, children, family, friends, food in the refrigerator, freedom.

Check out Doris’ latest books, “The Boy Whose Idea Could Feed the World” as well as, “The Parent Teacher Discussion Guide” and “Thin Becomes You”.

Doris’ web page: www.doriswildhelmering.com

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Taking Note Of Little Things Of Life

This morning I was on my way to the computer to write my column when I heard my husband singing in the shower. I sat quietly in the hall, sipped my coffee, and listened. He’d sing, then he’d whistle some of the melody, and then he’d sing a few more lines. It was pretty wonderful. He has a nice voice. But what brought a smile to my heart was how happy and content he was.

As I went to get myself that second cup of coffee, I glanced at our bookcases, which I had dusted and straightened the day before. Then I moseyed into the closet to admire my organizational and cleaning abilities.

By the time I woke up the computer and the little cursor was blinking in front of me, I had changed my idea for the column. “I’ll write on anger another time,” I thought. “Today I’ll write on pausing, pausing to note the little things in life that so often get brushed over and rushed by.”

One wall of my office is cork board. It is convenient for hanging story ideas, school calendars, jokes, funny and philosophical cards people have sent me, and family pictures I can’t bear to put away.

In one section on the wall I have all of my daughter’s school pictures. I love to look at the way she has changed and grown from year to year. First there are the big smiles of pre-kindergarten and early grade school. Then there are the years of shyness and tentativeness in front of the camera. And then a more mature face and a big friendly smile.

Looking around this room, there are so many pleasures. My coffee mug made by a St. Louis potter. The shape, the feel, the coloring, the handle – it’s so right. I’ve been drinking coffee from it for years.

One of my favorite cards on the wall shows a large green and orange fish swimming in the water.  A white rabbit dressed in a purple dress is hanging for dear life on the back of the fish. Above the picture is written, “Life can be a slippery fish.” How often that picture has helped me put things in perspective.

I have a globe on a stand in my office. It was a gift from a dear friend. Years ago the two of us were shopping in a stationery store when we came across some globes. I shared with her that when I was in grade school I would have given anything to own a globe. That Christmas my attentive friend surprised me with one. I like to spin it. I like the feel of it. Last week I used it to check out the spelling of Caribbean.

There’s an electric pencil sharpener on my desk. When I use it I become a little girl fascinated at how it can sharpen a pencil.

A handmade doll sits on one of the chairs. Her name is Emily. My friend Jeanine made her for me. Emily has on a blue and white dress with tiny white buttons. I never had a doll when I was a little girl. Maybe that’s why Emily has won such a place in my heart.

Hanging on the wall is a list of things I wanted to accomplish last year. Unlike other years when I have checked off only half my list, last year I checked almost every item. Perhaps I was kinder to myself when I made out the list. I didn’t give myself so many tasks to accomplish.

Other items in my office have special meaning for me: A carved bird, a small statue of a little girl, photos of flowers, a picture of one son in his football jersey, another son in his bathing suit.

Pause for a few minutes today. Listen. Look. Take note. Appreciate.

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