Kindness, Flowers and a Cake

"Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone's day."

~ Richelle E. Goodrich

For the past few days, I have been enjoying a shallow container of bright pink carnations in my kitchen.  Every time I see the flowers, I think of a very special Italian friend who baked a cake for my birthday -- a ciambellone or a Tuscan ring cake.  I enjoyed the cake, too, but the flowers have lasted longer.  My friend baked the ring cake, placed the cake on a silver platter with pink carnations in the middle and then wrapped in all in cellophane.  She adorned the outside with a single pink carnation and a card, and then delivered it to my home.  When I think of all the steps that it takes to pull that off, I am so grateful for her generosity and thoughtfulness.

Kindness and the Cashier

"If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another."

~ Winston Churchill

There is a national grocery store that I love.  The products are good, the prices are low and it is not huge.  To top it off, staff members are incredibly helpful and friendly.  The other day, I had selected a few things to buy, including a body lotion I like, only to find a new scent of the lotion at the cashier -- pumpkin.  I asked the cashier if people seemed to like it and he said that anyone who tried it, bought it.  I said that there was no tester.  No problem, he created one.  After slathering some of it on my arm, I decided that I did not want to smell like pumpkin pie, but I still had a glob of the cream on me.  Did he have paper towel?  No, but he immediately ran across several other cashiers and brought back paper towel for me.  My teenage daughter, who was with me, commented on how friendly the cashier was. 

Kindness and Flowers

"Some think love can be measured by the amount of butterflies in their tummy.  Others think love can be measured in bunches of flowers, or by using the words 'for ever.'  But love can only be truly measured by actions.  It can be a small thing, such as peeling an orange for a person you love because you know they don't like doing it."

~ Marian Keyes

One of my dearest friend's father passed away unexpectedly last week.  My friend's mother passed away a couple of years before and her father would always put fresh flowers at her grave.  This week, my friend's husband went to the cemetery and placed fresh flowers at my friend's mother's grave.

The Kindness of Responsiveness

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

~ Maya Angelou

A couple of weeks ago on a Friday afternoon, I reached out to a friend from high school on a community issue.  This is not someone with whom I communicate regularly.  In fact, I had to look in our alumnae directory for her number.  Not knowing if I had a current number, I left a message anyway.  Within a couple of hours, she texted me to say that she was at a conference, but that she could step out if I needed to speak with her immediately.  Otherwise, she said she could call me on her drive back to town the next day.  I have always respected this woman's kindness, but it still surprised me.

The Kindness of Birthday Greetings

"You take away all the other luxuries in life, and if you can make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift: happiness."

~ Brad Garrett

Whichever way they come, birthday greetings are a treat.  The early morning texts, the calls, emails, cards and gifts...  I appreciate them all.  There were the very early morning texts from college friends, including one who is walking the Camino de Santiago.  There were the more unusual greetings:  my prom date from high school emailed from Slovenia.  Really.  And an Italian friend adapted a photo of a sculpture in the Borghese Gallery in Rome to turn it into a birthday greeting.  Then one of my dearest friends, who lost her father unexpectedly a week ago, spent time with me today -- what a gift.  I also was able to spend a few minutes with -- and get hugs from -- two of my oldest friends; I have known them for more than four decades!  From early morning cuddles to late-night debate viewing with family, it has all been special and I feel abundantly blessed.  Thank you! 

The Kindness of Sharing News

"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood."

~ Lucious Annaeus Seneca

A close friend from college called a couple of weeks ago to share that a mutual friend was going to have an operation, but that our friend was not ready to talk to many people about it.  Since then, my friend has updated me on our friend's progress on an almost daily basis.  She went to visit our friend and sent a photo of the two of them, and shared how well our friend is doing.  There are so many ways to be a good friend and I realized how keeping other friends informed when a friend is going through a difficult time is an important way to be a friend.

The Kindness of a Helping Hand

"We each have the power to give.  It's the most gratifying feeling ever.  By reaching out to help another human being you're sending ripples of positive change."

~ Dana Arcuri

A woman I know was at a lecture at a museum.  The woman next to her was holding a glass of wine, but was trying to find something in her purse.  Although she did not know the other woman, the first woman asked the second one  if she would like her to hold the glass while she looked in her purse.  Relieved, the second woman said yes and handed the first woman her glass.  She then continued looking in her purse for her mobile phone as she wanted to make sure that it was off for the lecture.