Observations of a Salvation Army Ringer

Today, I ringed the bell for a good cause at Cash Wise Foods in a little town of Moorhead in Minnesota. My first experience as a ringer was three winters ago and being a huge believer of voluntary works in the community, I decided to sign up again this winter. It was an afternoon shift inside the supermarket by the entrance adjacent to the shopping carts depot. Sheltered from the chilly temperature outside, I  flashed a smile and greeted "Merry Christmas" to everyone who came to shop. These are the things I have observed during the 3-hour shift:

1. Smile is a contagious thing. Everyone I smiled at, smiled back at me. One gentleman approached me, dropped some paper bills into the bucket and said: " You have such a pretty smile, I can't help but donate".

2. People are generous and unselfish when they know that their money will be used for a good reason. About 70% of the people who came to shop, stopped by, unplanned, to drop some bills, or some change.

3. "Merry Christmas" is still a universal greeting to acknowledge that Christ is the reason why we celebrate Christmas. One lady said: "Am happy that you greeted me 'Merry Christmas' and not 'Happy Holiday' because a lot of people nowadays has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas".

4. Nice people are everywhere. One gentleman gave me a cup of hot coffee. He said I might be feeling chilly. . . so I should take something to warm me up. 

Other observations:

1. I also saw three familiar faces, one lady I used to work with at Orbitz.com; one lady I made friend recently who works at the Mall and one lady who's the mother of my fiancé brother.

2. There were three babies and 3 young children who came in with their moms, or dads or grandparents.

3. Most of the people who came to shop came prepared with shopping lists.

4. And I saw a most sweetest site of all: an elderly couple holding hand in hand. Talk about "love till death do us part"!

All in all, it was a good, productive day for me and I wouldn't mind having another beautiful day such as this.

Buy me some rainbow

of red hot chilies for my coconut curried chicken 

 of hot pink salted duck eggs for my dipping tomatoes

 of green calamansi fruits to quench my thirst

 of some brown tamarind fruits for my "sinigang" soup

 of white "balut" for a night snack

of some tan-boiled peanuts for a movie date

of yellow green mangoes for a rainy day

of light-purple boiled sweet potatoes for an afternoon snack

 of green guavas to munch some more

and of orange turmeric roots for my tummy ache 

A Nation of Smiling Faces

Have you ever been to a place where people are so friendly? 

Isn't it such a treat to see all the smiling faces around you!

  

I didn't know their names but when I asked if they could pose for pictures,

they all gladly obliged with added bonus: their "wholehearted smiles" .

It doesn't matter who they were, what they did and where they were going,

be it a little child, or a grandmother, a group of friends or a passer-by,
a street vendor, school children, an office worker, even a pauper;

no matter what the time of the day was, in the morning, noon or night,

be it sunny or rainy, humid and hot;

Their smiles were free-packaged in different forms: 
big ones, little ones, bashful smiles and mouthfuls, too.

They all came with warrantees that one can return anytime, any day with no expiration,

no obligations attached for all those involved but surely will accept one in a flash.

So it makes me wonder when such is scarce and a luxury from most places I have been, 

here it doesn't take much effort to get one in a wink

  hence I am convinced that this place is a nation of smiling faces, 
with delightful hearts and sunny dispositions

 which tells me that riches here abound from inside out.
So my friends and all, be a nation of such to make our world a better place to live!

As the saying goes, "what sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. 

These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, 

the good they do is inconceivable." -Joseph Addison

Pink Rain

taunting wind chimes
with smell of rain
as they sway dance
a slow tango
of lovers with
eyes closed
cheeks pressed
against each other
locked in
total surrender
forever
in soothing world
of wind chimes
swaying  graceful samba
with cheerful notes of
pink rain

Money....

"What a wonderful world".

While Mr. Gandhi Noodle (my daughter's big, black cat), lazily rolled over on a cozy, warm and thick rug draped over the bare, wooden floor of the main level of our 1.5 storey house, I peeped through the window thinking if I should or shouldn't brace myself to go outside and enjoy some brisk moment of fresh, crisp winter air...

after a moment of hesitation, I thought I should start "winterizing" myself 

by simply not thinking of how dreadful it is going to be when snow 

becomes a common scenery in the months to come.

So I grabbed my long winter coat, a pair of gloves, and a pair of winter boots, of course not forgetting to grab my camera just in case I stumble upon 

some "interesting subjects".

Today started  on a a frosty note as I have noticed 

some light snow on the ground and everything around me. 

Nature is even more beautiful to look at against the clear blue sky. 

Though the sun was out, I can feel the sharp, biting coldness of Minnesota's  early winter air. I saw a bird perched on a branch of my apple tree but not another shadow of any creatures around. I saw couple of red, feisty squirrels yesterday but none today.

Though winter is just a few blinks away, I would rather think that I will find some delights and surprises on simple things around me to keep me inspired in life.

It makes me smile to catch a glimpse of a frozen pink "Sweet Williams" flower in my garden as I inch my way back to the house. And as I end this post, I heard from the radio the song "Over the rainbow/What a wonderful world" (by Israel ‘IZ’ Kamakawiwo’ole on Unforgettable: The Standards Collection). Indeed, what a wonderful world we live in.

YOU!

Something to think about!

When I logged into my Facebook account today, I got this message posted on my wall from a good friend in college. It is long but worthy of your time to read so I thought I'd share it here for everyone else to read and share as well......

You were in my thoughts. I like to share this with you..Translated from the original in Chinese).
Because none of us have many years to live, and we can't take along anything when we go, so we don't have to be too thrifty...

Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don't leave all to your children or grandchildren, for you don't want them to become parasites who are waiting for the day you will die!!

Don't worry about what will happen after we are gone, because when we return to dust, we will feel nothing about praises or criticisms. The time to enjoy the worldly life and your hard earned wealth will be over!

Don't worry too much about your children, for children will have their own destiny and should find their own way. Don't be your children's slave. Care for them, love them, give them gifts but also enjoy your money while you can. Life should have more to it than working from the cradle to the grave!!

Don't expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render much help.

Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties and wealth.

Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but that you have no claims to their money.

50-year old like you, don't trade in your health for wealth by working yourself to an early grave anymore ....
Because your money may not be able to buy your health ....

When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)?

Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can consume only three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.

So, as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough. You should live happily. Every family has its own problems.

Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc., but challenge others for happiness, health, enjoyment, quality of life and longevity ....

Don't worry about things that you can't change because it doesn't help and it may spoil your health.

You have to create your own well-being and find your own place of happiness. As long as you are in good mood and good health, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day.

One day passes without happiness, you will lose one day.
One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.

In good spirit, sickness will cure; in a happy spirit, sickness will cure faster; in high and happy spirits; sickness will never come.

With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life of pleasure.

Above all, learn to cherish the goodness around .... and FRIENDS .... They all make you feel young and "wanted" .... without them you are surely to feel lost!!

Wishing you all the best.

Please share this with all your friends who are 50 plus and those who will be 50 plus after some time.

All the pretty flowers in fall

these are some of the

wild flowers that

bloomed in my garden

this summer which I planned

to expand next year.

Remembering Dad

A poem I wrote in 2008, as I was flying back home 

to pay my last respect to

 my father on his passing away 

another sunrise

another sunset

another day to come

time never learned

to wait for me

to come home

I said I would

I said if I could

come home to you

before you know it

I'd be home in a wink

but time never waited

for me to see your smile

fading away so quick

in a beat of my heart