Occasionally, I visit the social media world just to catch up on folks and their every day doings. It is quite apparent that if you wish to find out anything, run through that "newsfeed" and it will all be laid out for you. No one tries to have privacy any more. Everything is there...what people eat, their choice of clothing for the day, their arguments, their pet peeves and even the color of their underwear. Come on, folks. Some things need to remain with you and not be plastered all over the web. Granted, I pour out my heart on this blog but I have yet, and will not, post private things. Sorry. If you want that, you will have to go elsewhere....oh, try social media! You won't find my private life there but you will find enough from others to make your head spin.
Speaking of privacy and social media, modesty has also gone the wayside. There is nary a bit of decency in some of the "selfies" posted. To be honest, it is appalling not appealing. This whole bit brought to mind a rather humorous occurrence so many years ago. It seems that when my grandparents paid to have a photograph made of their youngest daughter in her early teens, there was some tension over the instructions given by the photographer. Helen was a beauty and had on a lovely gown. The photographer told her to pull down the ruffly shoulder straps for an "off-shoulder" look. She was then told to look over her should in a "sultry" gaze. My grandmother immediately went over, pulled the sleeve up some and told Helen to smile sweetly. In the meantime, my grandfather had a "friendly" talk with the photographer about how Helen was far too young for that! The photo session proceeded and the results were lovely.
Today, parents acting like this would never fly. I see parents dressing their preschoolers in more provocative outfits than what Helen wore that day but the world sees it as perfectly fine. The kids' photographs are plastered on social media and everyone oohs and ahhs. No one thinks of the message that these tiny tots are receiving through all of this. It is no wonder that pre-teens, teens and young adults see nothing wrong with what they share with the world. It is a wonder, however, that parents cannot understand where their teenagers got the idea that it was ok. Hmmm. I guess I am just feeling my age and have an intense yearning for days past when modesty, decency and self respect were all considered admirable.
Have you ever noticed how stores seem to prey on folks at any "gift-giving" time? Most of us have those days when going somewhere empty handed is just not at all acceptable. We were taught long ago that it is just proper to bring some small gift. While it does not have to be expensive or large, it is highly important that it is a perfectly well-thought gift. Department stores are no help. They shove stuff at us in wild abandon in hopes that, in desperation, we will grab whatever is glitzy and shiny and pass it off as a personally selected gift. Those boxed gift sets are horrible! They are useless! I hope to never see one darken my doorway again! Who needs another coffee mug with a single serving of instant fruit flavored coffee or a plastic "loofah" and cucumber scented body wash that causes a major rash with the first use or even a tiny photo album that holds six pictures and comes complete with a non-working pen? Not me...and probably not you but the stores still have all of these displayed in prominent places and they will sell thousands to folks who need that last minute present.
I have this sweetheart of a cousin who always finds the most unique gifts. Not that they are necessarily expensive or flashy, but the gifts are just perfect because she really "thinks" about the recipient. She thinks about what they like, what they do and what makes them smile. With that it mind, she finds things that she knows that person will appreciate. I admit that it is probably hard to find a gift for me. While I appreciate all gifts, I would rather have something that I can use. So....that said....Helen bought me a rat! Yep, A rat! I love it! The rat was one of several Halloween things that she came across while shopping and she just knew that I would appreciate it (and each of the other items!) That says a lot about me, doesn't it! I get thrilled over a rat!
The thing that stands out about this rat is that it shows that Helen really knows me. While she may not understand me (who does?), she knows that the little rat with beady eyes will come in handy. She knows that I will pull the little critter out of the closet each year and smile. The rat will be put out in a special place or may be moved here or there as an unexpected "surprise" for visitors to the Little Bayou House during the month of October...and may not be stowed away at all for the rest of the months. Helen knows that I love quirky little things and always manages to come up with the most perfect of gifts. I love this lady! What a special part of my life she is! Thank you, Helen! The bag of goodies is perfectly glorious and I really do adore this little critter!
The old idiom of "Great things come in small packages" was never so powerful to me as a recent act of kindness. One tiny gift projected an extreme amount of love that left me almost speechless. It brought a tear to the eye and a heart that was overwhelmingly full. One act..one wee gift had a profound effect.
Cousins..masses of cousins..recently descended upon the Bayou. Some were "old" friends while others were just met. Cousins, children of cousins and grandchildren of cousins all made themselves at home in the Little Bayou House. It was literally filled to the brim with folks. The laughter, chatter and hugs were shared and promises of more meetings were made. It was fun. The day was long but enjoyable. The tiny gift came at the close of the day. One cousin who has always been so dear to my heart, slipped a card into my hand. Helen quietly whispered, "This is for you. You have been such a dear to open up your home to all of us. I love you." I wanted the hubbub to stop right there so I could sit and spend the rest of the time with just her. We needed the time to just "catch up" with each other's lives and feelings. She and the other cousins were on the Coast to lay their father to rest. Uncle Alfred had passed away in July just two days short of his 100th birthday. Now the whole family was here to celebrate his life. I needed to sit with Helen and tell her what an important part of my life she is. I needed to be able to tell my all my other cousins that the connection with them will always be special and lasting. I needed to stop the commotion spinning around us and say "I love you." Not that we do not tell each other this often but I needed to have time...calm, quiet time to let it all sink in to my brain!
Inside the card was a tiny angel pendant. When I opened the card, the angel dangled loosely as if she was flying. It made me smile as I thought of how the love of cousins was much like that tiny flying angel. We do not have to be next door neighbors to know that the bond will always continue. We can be as far as angels fly and still be connected at the heart. Our love will travel the distance to keep us connected. We do not have to constantly be reminded nor constantly be in contact...it just happens. Cousins are usually the first friends we have and the ones that stick with us through a lifetime. They are the ones that will stand behind us, take the step before us, pick us up when we fall or give us that kick in the pants when we need it to keep us all headed down the right path. Cousins are the ones who step in when brothers and sisters cannot be there. The ties that bind you together are unbreakable and the loyalty is fierce. The tiny angel was the embodiment of all that. Love, Loyalty, Patience and Faith were all riding on the wings of one tiny angel and that angel carried it well.
Thank you, Helen. YOU are an angel and are so very, very dear to me as are all my cousins!
