Slight Detour: The Little Things

--Annie Love Photo

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
------Mother Teresa.

Yesterday turned out to be a "little thing" sort of day.

I'll borrow from my daughter-in-law's favorite response and say that as far as big news of any kind: not much.

Still, it was a day filled with little moments of big-time joy, for me at least.

I visited with a friend and his wife. I've known this friend named Mike since I was a little thing.

Some may ask, "When were you LITTLE?"

Well, never, but that question refers to stature.

I'm referring to very young in life.

Mike and I have shared great and memorable moments on a variety of planes throughout our lives: church, school, business, ZAGmania, sports in general and class-reunion planning.

Mike and I do differ politically----he kinda referenced that yesterday to which I simply said, "Yup, you and I watch different channels."

Still, we respect and appreciate our lifelong friendship enough never to allow political differences get in the way.

I finally jumped up in the middle of the conversation with Mike and Susie, announced, "I've got to go!"

"Why?" Mike asked.

"It's a beautiful day and I've got to get outside," I responded. Fifteen minutes and a few stories later, I finally got out the door with a smile.

It---as it always---had been a great visit, and I knew that if I did not abruptly jump up to leave, I would have been there at least a couple hours more AND enjoying our ongoing conversation.

On my way home, I stopped at the Kootenai Post Office for an experience of great satisfaction and pure delight while slipping several dozen envelopes filled with class reunion news through the slot of the outside blue mailing box.

A huge project involving meetings of the class reunion committee minds over the past couple of months had come to an end with that simple gesture at the mailbox----at least, until the next phase of our Reunion 2020.

So, twas another joyful time, just as seeing Annie's photo (first one above) on Facebook announcing spring in Seattle.

Well, it will be a while before we see that kind of color popping up around us, so I asked Annie if I could borrow the photo for today's post.

In spite of no color, I have been eyeing those daffodil tips which have been making their way up through the dirt and three-quarter minus gravel next to the barn door.

That area gets a lot of sun, so the daffodils must be feeling some early spring bravado.

Speaking of the barn area, I experienced another joyful moment when I came back with the cart from pruning stuff in the north lawn.

Two robins were pecking away at the brownish green patches of wet grass on the west side of the barn.

Ahhh, that sighting marked my official first for robins here at the Lovestead. I came back later with my camera, but the pair of robins had left the premises.

Still, I had seen them, and that made me smile.

I also smiled while arriving home and parking in front of the house. Two crows were having a sweet and touching moment on the limbs of the oak tree in the west lawn.

Rather than interrupting them by opening the car door, I snapped the photo through the windshield.

Twas another little sight that added some spice to an uneventful day.

Many such moments continued to happen as I worked outside---dogs coming up to say hi and sniff my pant legs before running off, geese flying and honking overhead AND Gary Finney honking his pickup horn on his way home . . . all pleasant ingredients of a February Tuesday.

I do have to say a "little" something about the debate last night and the debate last week.

It's been almost 18 years since I taught school, but I'm thinking that instead of those millionaire moderators, organizers should look to another source for the folks running the discussion.

School teachers don't often make millions like the broadcasters do, but they surely could do a much better job of keeping a sense of decorum and much higher standards during the debates.

Clearly setting the rules and enforcing the rules would be so much better for the candidates and for the millions tuning in to learn something.

In my classroom, we followed a simple rule: one person talks; all others listen.

If this was not happening, a firm reminder usually got things back on track.

If this could work with teenagers---which it did most of the time and even in the most spirited of discussions---certainly it could work with educated adults vying for the highest position in our nation.

Just my lowly school teacher view.

That's all.

Time to get back to the little things of life. They ARE kinda fun.

Happy Wednesday.