What nice things happened to you this week?

[WRITE]

I met a friend's newborn this week, it was so wonderful holding a tiny baby again, looking in his eyes and knowing everything he sees is so new and wonderful.

I have also made a new friend, he's really nice, he even came to work with me and danced and sang with a group of alzheimers patients!

[moonlight52]

Wow Write , A sweetie newborn ! And that newborn smell don't ya just love it .I can't wait to be a grand ma someday .And then your experience with Alzheimer patients ......................
                     Its always good to meet new friends.Or find ones from the past .One of my dear girlfriends I lost contact with called me .I have not spoken with her in 15 years she left a
                      message using old sweet nickname like we just had spoken yesterday.WE will see each other in about 3 weeks so cool..........................
                        Love and Light
                             Moon

[lightofheart]

Good Morning, Write
Good Morning, Moon

 
Thanks for sharing your nice things, which sound pretty AMAZING to me. 

I'm with you; newborn people have the sweetest smell, nothing like them. Or the sound of a a dear nickname spoken with love.

This week, the morning our in-laws flew home, my MIL (bless her heart and all her goodness; also a havoc-wreaking N.) took my face in both hands, kissed me, and told me she loved me and how glad she was that I married her son. And I know that was a real risk for her, as much as she feels rejected, and that she was touched by all the care we took to show them lovely places/times while they were here. Then, Fri., there was a knock on the door, because she'd sent me a beautiful bouquet of lilies, roses, and Gerber daisies.

Hope this week brings more lovely moments for both of you, and everyone.

Happy Sunday!
LoH

[Brigid]

I, too, can't wait for my first grandchild.  I look forward to being able to cuddle them when they're sleeping and/or happy, but able to hand them back when they're crying.  Babies and puppies both smell so wonderful.

I had a nice experience this week, that is also a bit bittersweet.  Last Sunday, I watched my D graduate from high school with her high honors cord around her neck.  She is so happy and beautiful and really looking forward to going to college in the fall.  I am happy for her, but also dealing with the idea of my very empty nest.  My friends keep asking me if it's going to be hard for me.  How could it not be at some level, but knowing she is happy and excited about the change certainly makes it easier.   I guess I'll have to wait until the end of August when I actually drop her off and drive away, then come home to her empty bedroom, before the reality will set in and the tears will flow.

Brigid

[WRITE]

I can't wait to be a grand ma someday

I think that would be a neat role too! Reading stories, teaching them to knit and sew ( I'd have to learn myself first! ) Being 100% supportive at a descreet distance.

 I know that was a real risk for her, as much as she feels rejected, and that she was touched by all the care we took to show them lovely places/times while they were here

that is so sweet.
Sometimes those moments we have to wait for are so wonderful. You have been very kind and patient. Enjoy the flowers- you deserve them!

I guess I'll have to wait until the end of August when I actually drop her off and drive away, then come home to her empty bedroom, before the reality will set in and the tears will flow.

I guess you will have to do a period of 'mourning' and adjustment- how could you not? but they are happy tears too ( as my son says ) for knowing you have raised a strong, healthy person ready to go out and find her place in the world.

Since I kept the Thankfullness Journal I think I have had a better perspective on things, and living more in the moment, enjoying the nice things as they happen.

One day I'll relax and that will become second nature, without me waiting anxiously for everything to go horribly wrong!

[Portia]

I was thinking about this topic. I enjoyed stuff but I guess it’s interactions that make me smile most. Human ones! This board gets me smiling a lot.

Now, here’s an interaction. What does it say about me? I think it says I’m too open to reaching out and a bit mad because of it.

Supermarket, Saturday, late-ish, cleaning products aisle. Bloke with trolley in front of products says “sorry” and moves trolley. “It’s okay I’m only looking” I say and we get into conversation. A conversation that last about 5-10 minutes, covers topics such as:

“You know, I really think everyone is mostly insane” (him)
“You’re probably right: global warming is increasing and we’re interested in …. football!” (me)
“45 minutes on the topic of carbon, it was fantastic programme” (me)
“you know about the carbon cycle do you?” (him)
(about cleaning products) “it’s well-known now, if you have too much choice, you can’t make a decision and you feel bad about yourself” (me)
“so it’s not just me that feels inadequate?” (him)
“Oh no, everyone reacts the same! We just don’t like to admit it” (me)
“I’m glad to hear that, I really thought it was just me!” (him)
(Five minutes spent scrutinising the labels and contents of cleaning products.)

you get the idea. I felt okay about meeting this chap, a really eccentric, odd-looking bloke who seems just a tad on the edge and who is happy to chat and interact. And what’s wrong with it? Okay I should take care and I do. but heck, I’d rather have that kind of helpful, meaningful chat with someone who I imagine can’t do the social stuff very well than have 30 minutes listening to my neurotic neighbour. I felt a connection with the chap, I felt we had made each other feel better. With my neighbour hey, the radio is only on transmit.

I thought that was okay and even nice. I’m weird but someone has to be?

[Hops]

That's me too Portia.
I truly want to talk to people and sometimes all the "normal" people seem to be wearing a sign that says "I do not speak to you unless we have been Properly Introduced."

I am doing a sermon in July (lay leaders are all offered one summer Sunday) and for the longest time I was sure I'd make it on narcissism, but then I realized that to do a proper job of that I'd have to mention my mother, and the heritage thing, and I don't want to do that while she lives, as some people in my congregation know her, and it would be cruel. The other topic that wouldn't leave my brain is loneliness, so that's what I'll do. I'll talk about the joy and importance of solitude too, and how one can crave that. But in essence, it'll be about loneliness. Like feeling it's unsafe, unwelcome or inappropriate to strike up meaningful conversations with strangers. Or, walking down a sidewalk where everyone is chatting madly to the air (cellphones) and ignoring each other. Or urban fears of crime. Or feeling too old to attract a man, even if you're attractive. And wind it up with what to do about it.

So your chat in the grocery reminds me of me. I need more people oontact, work in a very isolating job/office...and am so tired by the end of the day I don't have much energy to bounce out and socialize.

Hops

[Hops]

Whoops. When I went off on loneliness I forgot
this was the "nice things" thread. Sorry.
If anybody wants to talk on that subject,
please feel free to move it to a new thread...

Hops

[Hops]

Okay, forgive me posting 3 times in a row here, but I want to share nice things (and I really, really don't want to be here in my lonesome office!)

This is a sad thing that has nice things buried in it. A good friend has ovarian cancer and got the news at the end of the week that it's spread, nothing to do. Four of us met at her house Saturday afternoon to help her think about options, ways of going forward for as long as she can. One took notes, one who knows a lot about alternative healing suggested juicing (she can't eat much solid as it's in her colon), I'm lending her my VitaMix (a thing you could blend hammers with and not miss a nutrient), one is coordinating her visitors, we all suggested affirmations including funny ones, we helped her choose between two chemotherapy drugs (it's the only thing that's ever slowed it before so she does want to try it again), we planned a phone tree, her partner said she wanted to light a candle in church with my support, and we listed things like funny movies, dancing every day, tons of water, focusing in the moment and using her best energy to paint, and we ended up by standing in a circle around her with our eyes closed and sort of beaming light into her, which was very moving. They both were at church yesterday and though emotional seemed lifted up by the community (which is an ongoing nice thing in my weekends). It will be tough going ahead, but we'll be there for her.

Saturday night I went to a birthday party for another church friend, hubby of my good new friend who also has an NMom (major validation, this friendship)...and he, Bob, is very goofy and wonderful. It was Bob's Big Bratwurst and Bocce Birthday Bash. I gave him a nice harmonica, which revived my desire to have one myself, so I'm going back to the music store to get one.

I was lay leader yesterday morning and it was one of those: welcome new babies, acknowledge the fifth graders who will now be in the adult services, and present the graduating high schoolers with roses and books and pins and do a little ceremony about how we love them and are with them as they go forward. So I got to look at lots of baby faces, and young child faces, and teenaged faces, and they were all sweet and wonderful. And I didn't screw up as I had the last time (flying in 10 minutes late and trying to crawl across the front as though it was a planned entrance, for which I got grief all day).

After church one of my dearest friends from another state I lived in 12 years ago came through with her hubby (they're hiking the Appalachian trail). So I took them to lunch and on a tourist tour, and we went to some beautiful spots and saw a "hummingbird bee" I'd never ever seen before, and they came by to meet Mom and fuss over my dog, and it was joyful to see them.

Yup. Great weekend! Thanks for starting this thread, Write.

Hops

[Healing&Hopeful]

What a lovely thread.... I'm always amazed by people who can talk to anybody about anything.  I have a friend who can do this and I find it really inspiring.  I can't do for two reasons, 1. I can't think of anything interesting to say (quite a biggie really!), and 2. I'm worried that they'll look at me like I'm an oddball (which is probably correct!) and walk off. 

Nice things which happened to me....

My H hugged me when he came back last week and told me what a gorgeous sexy lady I was and how much he had missed me (he was away last week)

I went to yoga and got my arms and legs in a twist

Saw BIL's grandchildren (as other thread)

Had loads of nice food.... BBQ'd steak, sausages, salad, batches, raspberries, marranges (which I can't spell!)

To name a few.....

[lightofheart]

Hi Hops,

This 'nice thing' is for you; maybe even from you...

Needed to buy a birthday gift yesterday so stopped in one of my fave hippie stores. Beautiful perfect day, so I walked in beaming. The lady behind the counter said, "And how may I help you this fine day?"

There was something about her, maybe the lovely white hair with a young face was part of it, and then the little extra she put into her words, a lilt of utter sincerity and kindness. I thought, Wow, this woman is Hops' soul sister! So I answered, "Well you're helping me just by keeping this great store open and smiling about it." Then we were off and running. She was upset because a friends' grandson had just died in Iraq, so we talked about poltics and people, and politics against people, and I was blown away by the whole range of 'controversial' subjects we chatted easily about, no trepidation at all, just because we both ran with our good vibe and gave each other the benefit of the doubt.

Eventually I found a present for my friend and came back to the counter. The nice Hopsian lady rang it up and said, "I would really like to give you something, if you don't mind." She walked over to the rack and handed me a bumper sticker: 'Another bleeding heart for justice and equality.'

We clasped hands and said goodbye like old friends. I like to think that big little moment trickled down into her day, and all the other people she talked to, the same way it did mine. I like to think she knows she gave me a gift way beyond a bumper sticker.

Best to you and big smiles (can't do emoticons from work),

LoH

PS- Hops, as to loneliness and your sermon, you made me think of James Taylor, from Shower the People:

Once you tell somebody the way that you feel you can feel it beginning to ease

imho, it's a nice thing to share how you feel, and to share your lovely plan to address loneliness in a positive way that may gladden hearts. I know it gladdened mine.

[Healing&Hopeful]

This is a sad thing that has nice things buried in it. A good friend has ovarian cancer and got the news at the end of the week that it's spread, nothing to do. Four of us met at her house Saturday afternoon to help her think about options, ways of going forward for as long as she can. One took notes, one who knows a lot about alternative healing suggested juicing (she can't eat much solid as it's in her colon), I'm lending her my VitaMix (a thing you could blend hammers with and not miss a nutrient), one is coordinating her visitors, we all suggested affirmations including funny ones, we helped her choose between two chemotherapy drugs (it's the only thing that's ever slowed it before so she does want to try it again), we planned a phone tree, her partner said she wanted to light a candle in church with my support, and we listed things like funny movies, dancing every day, tons of water, focusing in the moment and using her best energy to paint, and we ended up by standing in a circle around her with our eyes closed and sort of beaming light into her, which was very moving. They both were at church yesterday and though emotional seemed lifted up by the community (which is an ongoing nice thing in my weekends). It will be tough going ahead, but we'll be there for her.

This is so lovely Hops....

[Hops]

LoH:
Thank you. What a lovely validation, and such a nice thing to be thought about off-line! I am positive we'd have the same sort of instant flow if we met.

"Hopsian"    I've never been given an adjective before!    (What a gift for a wordnut.)

H & H,
It was. I love the "leap into action" side of chosen family...friends.
You are one.

Hugs both,
Hops