Happy Sunday Everyone:
Jack Marckwardt is an old beautiful soul at 22 years of age. He loves everything outside of his generation, including his music. I’m driving to work and a text pops into the family chat from Jack, it reads “my song of the day”, with a picture of his screen playing “Lean on me” by Bill Withers.
I was sitting in my favorite chair yesterday with the song cranked loud as I’m doing again now. Great music takes you to special places. Makes me think, makes me reflect. As I was sitting here listening to the words, I’m thinking about the company we keep and a few stories of the week. I was thinking about Kim, my wife, not with me this weekend because she’s in Colorado spending time with her best friend from growing up who just lost her dad. Kim coined the term “showuppers”. The people in your life who show up when you need them to show up. She wasn’t thinking about herself when she coined the term but she’s the ultimate example of a showupper. Anyone reading this that knows Kim is nodding in approval. I married the showupper of the century.
I was thinking about my mom’s friends. Not sure how many of you take the time to think about how bad Valentine’s Day sucks for everyone who has lost their Valentine, but it’s worth considering. My mom is proud. Her fear in life is having any one feel sorry for her or feeling like a burden. This is 100% in her own head but it doesn’t change that it exists in her. When her friends asked her to dinner last night for Valentines Day (2 couples), she was hesitant. Her friend simply said “Ginger, Valentines Day is about love, and we love you”, and that was it, she went. I’m proud of her and I also appreciate the love of her friends for her. Talk about showuppers. When you lose someone, you have a new appreciation for the showuppers. You can’t understand until you’ve walked in it.
Thinking about my conversation with the gal at the guard gate last week and taking the time to stop to talk to her. She told me the money I gave her went to a cremation/service for her dog. 3 days later, with a line of cars behind me, she’s crying with joy showing me a picture of her new puppy. Yes, that one was about me being good, why not. I don’t think it’s healthy to walk through life congratulating our good deeds, but I do think it’s worth taking note with some intentionality so we can continue to pay it forward as often as possible.
I’d say I understand this may sound sappy, but it’s also very real. Here I am, sitting in a chair, listening to a song my son sent me, reflecting on the gratitude I have for the people and moments in our lives. If that’s sappy, so be it. What I’d beg of all of you is to pull up “lean on me”, throw it on high volume, and see how you feel when you’re done. There is a 99.9% chance it makes your day better.
Hope you all have an amazing Sunday!