A Simple Hello

Over the years and as towns have become cities, we have lost so many of our social graces. One in particular has caught my attention. We never say "hello" any more. Back in the day (before my time) you knew everyone that you walked past and so you must say hello out of courtesy. I get a taste of that small-town feeling when I go to Wal-Mart near my home. Rarely do I get to make a quick trip because I usually run into two or three people that I know and must stop to say hello and chit chat. Honestly, I enjoy that feeling.

I do not enjoy my walk to work because I have quite the opposite feeling. For the summer I am tutoring at the local community college. I park my car towards the back of the parking lot to build a little exercise into my day and then walk to the library where I tutor. Every day I pass at least one or two people that I do not know. Very rarely does any one make eye contact and a hello is even more difficult to receive.

What happened to us that we are too busy or distant to say hello to people we pass? I have begun to go out of my way (not always, I am building up) to say hello to people who come within speaking distance. Generally people respond with a greeting or smile, but not always. That momentary connection brightens my day and helps me to feel just a little more connected to my fellow townspeople.

Give it a try. Say hello today and brighten the day of someone you will never see again.

My To Do List

Today, while I was happily playing with the kids in my Sunday School class, it hit me. I have to get everything ready in the next couple of weeks before I go on vacation. Everything includes get my kids ready to go back to school, prepare for Promotion Sunday for the Sunday School class, get a plan together for a new girls program I will be leading at the parks and rec center, get a plan together for the girls group I will be leading at church this fall, clean my house for my mom's visit (she will be coming home with the kids and me from vacation), and on and on. OH MY! My to do list suddenly grew exponentially! Five weeks until vacation and five hundred things to do. OK, so I exaggerate. Really there are only four hundred ninety six things to do, but the other four will be on the list by the time I am finished with this post.

Whose Birthday Is It?

My daughters and I read a book today about how the American flag came to be. It talked about common stories, such as the idea that Betsy Ross made the flag, and then presented some facts about the history of our flag. By the time we closed the book, I felt that the girls didn't really get much out of the story. That thought was confirmed when, later in the day, Banana proudly proclaimed that today is the birthday of our flag. I look forward to helping her learn a little more this year when she studies American History in school.

In any case, Happy Birthday America!