Wonderful, wonderful words, Holly. Your encounter with Ms Mary has made me beam from ear to ear AND given me goosepimples, and THESE words about the dance team are everything:
"I told her the only payment required was to work hard on their routine and go make our county proud."
Holly, you do YOURSELF proud, and inspire me with every word you write. Thank you.
I love this post, and the happy ending that can now replace an old memory of mine. Years ago when I was probably in my 20's, my friend and I were on our way somewhere, who knows where now. It was raining out, and we spied an older woman hitchhiking in the rain. Of course, we stopped. Who passes up and elderly woman in the rain hitchhiking? She climbed in the backseat and we headed off to lower Millbrae, about a ten minute drive from where we were. In that ten minutes, the woman began to make comments that made both of us very concerned-- perhaps we had made a mistake. Seriously, I thought maybe she'd pull out a gun and shoot us. My girlfriend maintained her calm demeanor and drove to the nearest spot possible to pull over, and then with a friendly voice said, "okay, this is as far as we are going." The woman balked a bit, made a few off remarks, but eventually got out of the car. We silly girls laughed at everything back in the day, so we took a deep breath of relief, and then began laughing hysterically. Who knows now if we were just being ridiculous young gals, over-reacting, but I still don't think so. I love that you helped Ms. Mary, and especially that there was a happy ending to your story! 💟
It's so lovely to hear how much good you are doing in your part of the world! (Not to mention everything you do here). I'm so inspired. Things like this don't happen often in Brooklyn--actually, my grandmother spent part of her childhood in the neighborhood I live in, and I'm 99% sure no who lives here now knew her.
That was a nice thing to do, and it's nice that you seem to have a trusting society where you live. My wife and I a few years ago picked up a young girl (teen) who was standing on the central reservation of a busy road, crying. We took her home and made sure she was ok. But afterwards we were so worried that we'd been picked up by cctv and thought to be child abductors that we flagged down a police car and told them what we'd done!
I'm working on my own impossible project, Holly and this post helped me frame the whole thing in a new way (the old frame I was seeing through was not working). Thank you for the inspiration! Sending you best wishes and lots of positive energy as you bring the next phase of your dream to life. It's clear that you're well on your way there! :)
My mother would have said, "Oh, that is synchronicity at work!" (She loved to learn and use words-it made us NUTS as teenagers but I am so thankful for it now). You are a community builder. And you know what, you are fearless! I also want to say, "Great Job" on all the new subscribers! With every piece you write, it is traveling further and further, inspiring us all. (Which conversely makes me think, uh, oh, my subscribers are not growing...am I not inspiring/entertaining anyone? Okay, Mary, you are 61, not 14) I love, love, love what you are doing with that 112 year old building!
Why is it that I always tear up when I read your stories Holly? Meeting Ms. Mary was meant to be. It's nice to see that people who need help fall into the path of someone who can help them.
Keep thinking positively on your event venue. You may have run into some obstacles but keep remembering why you're doing it in the first place. And don't give up. I know you can do it!
Oh Holly, a timely post again! I've been struggling with fear of failure, fear of not doing the "right" things, fear of not going in the direction God wants me to go...and He's starting to show me that, if my heart posture is humble and my desire is to serve Him, I can't really do anything "wrong."
A friend pointed out to me the other day that God uses all things for our sanctification. Whether it's a failure in human terms or not doesn't matter: what you said in this posts stands true. When we seek to serve God, He will guide us in the paths that are best for us and that further His plan. We can't judge the whole picture because we can't see it, but we can trust that His plans are good and that we will grow through all things.
My heart isn't yet as open to others and to those random interruptions as yours is, but I desire to come to a point where it is. 💛
LOVED this story!! “Love comes in the interruptions.” Wow. Thank you for vacuuming (there should be an award for that much sq footage), picking up trash and driving the elderly to breakfast and home again. 🥰♥️
Re your question: Any job loss that Bryan and I have had (that wasn’t of our own initiation) has been a scary transition. But even through the uncertainty of what comes next, we have landed on our feet.
My entire Lonesome, Party of Six series started like this! My family (minus my older son, who had gone to the Egg Bowl) went to a movie on Thanksgiving night. I was leaving for a weekend of writing collaboration very early the next morning and didn't want to drive ALL THE WAY across town to eat at Cracker Barrel. Alas, nothing else was open, my daughter noticed an older man eating alone and paid for his meal, and the scenarios began to paint themselves into my consciousness.
Thanks for the reminder of God's beauty found when things don't work out like we'd planned!
“Love comes in the interruptions.” What a beautiful truth!
Wonderful, wonderful words, Holly. Your encounter with Ms Mary has made me beam from ear to ear AND given me goosepimples, and THESE words about the dance team are everything:
"I told her the only payment required was to work hard on their routine and go make our county proud."
Holly, you do YOURSELF proud, and inspire me with every word you write. Thank you.
I love this post, and the happy ending that can now replace an old memory of mine. Years ago when I was probably in my 20's, my friend and I were on our way somewhere, who knows where now. It was raining out, and we spied an older woman hitchhiking in the rain. Of course, we stopped. Who passes up and elderly woman in the rain hitchhiking? She climbed in the backseat and we headed off to lower Millbrae, about a ten minute drive from where we were. In that ten minutes, the woman began to make comments that made both of us very concerned-- perhaps we had made a mistake. Seriously, I thought maybe she'd pull out a gun and shoot us. My girlfriend maintained her calm demeanor and drove to the nearest spot possible to pull over, and then with a friendly voice said, "okay, this is as far as we are going." The woman balked a bit, made a few off remarks, but eventually got out of the car. We silly girls laughed at everything back in the day, so we took a deep breath of relief, and then began laughing hysterically. Who knows now if we were just being ridiculous young gals, over-reacting, but I still don't think so. I love that you helped Ms. Mary, and especially that there was a happy ending to your story! 💟
It's so lovely to hear how much good you are doing in your part of the world! (Not to mention everything you do here). I'm so inspired. Things like this don't happen often in Brooklyn--actually, my grandmother spent part of her childhood in the neighborhood I live in, and I'm 99% sure no who lives here now knew her.
That was a nice thing to do, and it's nice that you seem to have a trusting society where you live. My wife and I a few years ago picked up a young girl (teen) who was standing on the central reservation of a busy road, crying. We took her home and made sure she was ok. But afterwards we were so worried that we'd been picked up by cctv and thought to be child abductors that we flagged down a police car and told them what we'd done!
I'm working on my own impossible project, Holly and this post helped me frame the whole thing in a new way (the old frame I was seeing through was not working). Thank you for the inspiration! Sending you best wishes and lots of positive energy as you bring the next phase of your dream to life. It's clear that you're well on your way there! :)
"Love comes in the interruptions." Just perfect.
My mother would have said, "Oh, that is synchronicity at work!" (She loved to learn and use words-it made us NUTS as teenagers but I am so thankful for it now). You are a community builder. And you know what, you are fearless! I also want to say, "Great Job" on all the new subscribers! With every piece you write, it is traveling further and further, inspiring us all. (Which conversely makes me think, uh, oh, my subscribers are not growing...am I not inspiring/entertaining anyone? Okay, Mary, you are 61, not 14) I love, love, love what you are doing with that 112 year old building!
Why is it that I always tear up when I read your stories Holly? Meeting Ms. Mary was meant to be. It's nice to see that people who need help fall into the path of someone who can help them.
Keep thinking positively on your event venue. You may have run into some obstacles but keep remembering why you're doing it in the first place. And don't give up. I know you can do it!
Forgotten mouse? Free tip: spend an hour getting used to using your trackpad.
What a beautiful story about finding magic in the mundane. Thank you
As it has already been mentioned .... “Love comes in the interruptions.”
Love you Holly!
Oh Holly, a timely post again! I've been struggling with fear of failure, fear of not doing the "right" things, fear of not going in the direction God wants me to go...and He's starting to show me that, if my heart posture is humble and my desire is to serve Him, I can't really do anything "wrong."
A friend pointed out to me the other day that God uses all things for our sanctification. Whether it's a failure in human terms or not doesn't matter: what you said in this posts stands true. When we seek to serve God, He will guide us in the paths that are best for us and that further His plan. We can't judge the whole picture because we can't see it, but we can trust that His plans are good and that we will grow through all things.
My heart isn't yet as open to others and to those random interruptions as yours is, but I desire to come to a point where it is. 💛
LOVED this story!! “Love comes in the interruptions.” Wow. Thank you for vacuuming (there should be an award for that much sq footage), picking up trash and driving the elderly to breakfast and home again. 🥰♥️
“Love comes in the interruptions.”
*chef’s kiss*
Re your question: Any job loss that Bryan and I have had (that wasn’t of our own initiation) has been a scary transition. But even through the uncertainty of what comes next, we have landed on our feet.
My entire Lonesome, Party of Six series started like this! My family (minus my older son, who had gone to the Egg Bowl) went to a movie on Thanksgiving night. I was leaving for a weekend of writing collaboration very early the next morning and didn't want to drive ALL THE WAY across town to eat at Cracker Barrel. Alas, nothing else was open, my daughter noticed an older man eating alone and paid for his meal, and the scenarios began to paint themselves into my consciousness.
Thanks for the reminder of God's beauty found when things don't work out like we'd planned!