Spring Still Came

3 months ago my dear friend passed away from colon cancer. I walk by her house when I walk my route in my neighborhood. Before she got real sick with her cancer I wondered what it would be like to walk by when she was gone. I would shake by head as if to say, don't think of it. Then around August when I could see her getting sicker the season changed to fall and then winter. Of course the surroundings outside her house looked different in the winter. Brown grass, no leaves on the trees, summer flowers gone. I have to say her house looked sad. After she passed in January in the worst of winter, her yard looked empty.  When I walk by I still pretend she is in there. Sitting in her room in her recliner. One Saturday morning about 2 weeks ago I walked by her house and as looked at the trees along her sidewalk I saw blossoms on their cottonwood trees. The thought came into my head, "Spring still came." As tears came into my eyes, I realized spring still came, even in their grief and mine.

an random act of kindness

One of my favorite math teachers came in 2 days ago to the copy center in the morning.  I always noticed her beautiful ruby and diamond tennis bracelet but this day she was not wearing it.  I asked her, "Where is your bracelet?"  She teared up and said she lost it sometime the day previous.  She had been at school, Walmart and pumped gas.  I suggested she tell the office and the custodians that she had lost it.
     Meanwhile during this conversation a special ed English teacher came in and was organizing paperwork to get copied.
     Traci came back to the door of the copy center with glassy eyes holding her bracelet.  It had been found and turned in.  I helped put it back on her wrist all the while we were talking about how great it was that it was found. 
    Lesa said, "Oh, is that yours?  I found it this morning as I was coming in at 6:30.  Normally, I don't walk with my head down but I was carrying a bunch of stuff and I was looking down and I spotted it in the crack of the sidewalk."
It was such a good experience.  Traci's bracelet was found and Lesa was so honest to turn it in. 

Been doing some thinking

I used to visit Las Vegas before when I was younger and coming from Seattle area I have never felt not safe there. It did not bother me. This trip however, I did not feel as safe as I normally do. Also, with life experiences and my own children aging I saw it differently. What I can say, is I have been changed as I age.

 I have not ever been too much of a deep thinker. Lately I am noticing I notice and think more. This last week we went to Las Vegas for a few days. I realized that I have lived in "Safe Utah" and got used to it now. I think nothing of heading out on a walk in the dusk of the night or going to the store at night I never get scared. A couple of times I was even scared on this trip. While I was visiting Las Vegas I noticed how ethic it is which I love and miss about Utah. I also noticed men and young boys out walking by themselves at all hours of the day and night. They may have been walking to work as shifts start and end at all times of the day just to keep that city moving. But I think some were not. Some were there without friends or family and down on their luck. I saw it in their faces. They just looked sad and it made me sad.

When we got home, that very night I went on a walk and it was dusk. I could hear children playing and laughing and I smiled. I walked up this street, up a little hill and turned on my road. The course I always walk and I was thinking of how wonderful it is to live with family and have friends and live where I can hear children playing outside, laughing and talking.

I passed a church where Scouts was just getting over and boys were running and dodging outside, laughing and yelling. My eyes filled with tears. Then as I came to the corner and turned east to walk down the hill there were two men laying on the front yard of their house talking with smiles.

I wonder if those boys/men have friends?  If they ran to Las Vegas to get rich quick and now they are stuck?  I am so grateful my boys have jobs, friends and family.  I am grateful I have the same.