Spirit and smiles
“Okay,” I said to Sam yesterday while we were at the grocery store, “we’re on a mission.” I had just turned from the cashier, having wished her a Merry Christmas.
Sam likes missions. He perked up to listen.
“From now until Christmas, we’ll make it a point to wish everyone we interact with a Merry Christmas or happy holidays. Don’t be loud and exuberant, just smile nicely and in a regular voice wish away. Lots of people are in a hurry and they’re grumpy and they forget that Christmas is about sweet spirits and kindnesses. Are you with me?”
Apparently he is. He reports stats to me periodically: “That’s eleven so far, mom.”
“Ahhh, Sammo, you’re doing a great job.“
I’ve been employing the same methods. Most people are hurried and ignore me, or brusquely return my wishes, disinterested and disingenuous. Some look wildly startled, as in, ‘Oh yeah….it’s Christmas, after all.’
But others, oh others smile sweetly back at me and say some variation of ‘And to you, too.’ and we connectly warmly and briefly.
Scout is in charge of today’s baking, saying early-on to me: “I know how to do this Momma, we’ve been doing it since I was born!” The kitchen looks like the site of a Great Flour-Based Disaster, and the dining room table looks as if the Sprinkles War To End All Sprinkles Wars has commenced. The first batch of sugar cookies turned out a strange pale-gray color, as well as remarkably flat (they are supposed to be near-white and fluffy). Hell, I figure if we use enough frosting (which I will make myself, telling her she is far to busy to), the fellas will choke them all down. They’d eat a plate of dirt if you put enough ketchup on it.
She feels important and happy, and that’s all that counts.
6 worked it out »