Kindness of strangers

farichainlinksun, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

This photo has nothing to do with my post, I just think it’s pretty, and I like to showcase some of my photos, especially the ones I like the most.

A few weeks ago, I did something that I think most people would have done. It’s since been brought to my attention that what I did was very kind, and very appreciated and a welcome surprise.

A delivery person broke down in the parking lot next door. He is a contracted truck driver for the post office. His battery died after he lowered the lift gate, so he couldn’t leave the truck, but he also couldn’t go anywhere. I sat with him in the backyard, keeping him company, giving him some iced tea, and just being polite. He was stranded for almost 5 hours, and most of those were spent with me, or throwing balls around with the boys. Just being a very nice, considerate person.

The next day, he dropped some homemade cookies off, for all of us. We’ve since run into him, and his family, at several different events, and we wave to each other, and I gave him some of my homemade chili pepper powder.

The other day, it was pointed out that what I did, allowing him to be a part of our day, and helping him to be more comfortable,that that isn’t such a common sight, anymore.

I would like to think that is something most people would do. I don’t like to think being kind to someone is out of the realm of expectation.

The kindness of strangers should be a welcome addition to our day, not a surprise.

Grief is a cruel mistress

Today marks the one year anniversary of my father’s (in-law) passing. I called him dad, and he was more important to me than any other man, on the planet, save my own husband. He loved me like a father should love a daughter, and my life will never be the same. Especially with this dad sized hole in my heart and my life.

We spent the day with family. Steve and I fashioned a grave marker of sorts from a photo we loved and a block of wood. Sounds worse than it is, and it actually, very, very beautiful, but I think the most important part of it all is that the marker was made with love, and denotes the love we feel for him. Since there is no gravestone there, yet, the funeral home marker and veterans flag didn’t seem like enough.

Not to mark his passing. Not to show the world that he left such a huge impact on so many lives. To show that in a town of 2500 or so, nearly that many people walked through the doors of the funeral home to pay their respects to him.

Grief has had her cruel hands around my throat, for the last year. She tightens them at the oddest of times. A smell, a verse to a song, a man walking through the store that resembled dad. Even a certain color shirt can take my breath away and make me pause to collect myself. A few weeks ago, Mike and I were walking through the store and we both saw him. That old farmer, wearing work pants and a t-shirt. Grey hair and distinct nose. We both paused and watched him make his way down the bread aisle, turn the corner and leave our vision. We nodded at each other, shook off the hands, and walked on.

It’s the moments like that, that are the hardest. That make me appreciate the fact that we got to experience his love and have him make his mark on our lives, forever. I know my boys will be a certain kind of man because that man, that one so special and so missed, made his mark on Steve and my boys. They know what a true man is.

I love you dad. Today, forever, always. I’m so very glad I told you that, before you left our sides. I say it to you often, during the day, and it helps me get through it all.

It helps me to survive.

Memorial

Memorial, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

A year ago. Today.

Gone, but never will you be forgotten.

fridaynightlights

fridaynightlights, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

It’s football season again. And I couldn’t be happier about that. I love just about everything about football, I’m a huge NFL and college fan, and every single friday night that we can, we follow our local school around the county and watch them play.

It’s my bliss, and it’s simple, and that is all right with me!

final lily

finallily, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

Day lily blooming in the garden. Probably the last one of the season.

dandeliondreams

dandeliondreams, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

sunflowerfield

sunflowerfield, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

More sunflowers. I shoot what I have access to. And I just got my lens back from repair, so shoot sunflowers I did.

itsalive

itsalive, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

hopeful

I’ve titled this photo, “hopeful”. I’m not entirely sure why, but it spoke to me, the contrast between the sunflower and the sky, and the way the flower was opening itself up to the sky.

I’ m hopeful.

About life.
About school.
About all the things that matter.

I know everything happens for a reason, and that there are reasons behind every thing.

I am hopeful I can continue to view the world through optimistic eyes and reach for those things that light up my heart and my mind.

threescompany

threescompany, originally uploaded by Miss Xombie.

I guess this is turning into a photoblog. No problem with that, I suppose!