OF PUBLIC SERVANTS AND HOLIDAYS:

Today I want to talk about the people who make life worth living.
I know the title is a little misleading in this but what it means is our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, ambulance techs and EMTs, the doctors and nurses, the security officers and the power workers… in short all the people who work every day of the year so that you can be warm and safe and have the nicer things.

See I think we don’t think about them often enough. Remember I said they work every day, that is the crux of the whole thing here… EVERY day.
When you’re kids are out trick or treating, and you are at your party/ies, they are standing by to keep the predators away, while you are sitting around your thanksgiving feast they are waiting for the call to come rscue you from the food you are choking on or to save you from your stupidity in trying to deep fry your turkey, when you are around your Christmas tree opening presents they are ready and willing to come out to save your home from burglars or fire.
And while all these things are going on they are also out there making sure you have the electricity to see by in your house or to light your ornaments, they are guarding your place of employment so you have somewhere to go back to work at after you are done with your frivolity. Often they are sacrificing time with their own families and friends in order to do this.

The thing is, we never really think of them. We don’t think about what they are doing until they drop the bell for a few minutes or we have to rush a loved one to the ER or we need someone to come and save us from our folly. Then they see US when we are in the worst circumstances possible, in the midst of crisis and fear.

And we seldom appreciate them for what they do. We rail at the policeman who in stopping the crook knocked over our snowman.
We scream at the doctor or nurse in the ER because we HAVE to know what is going on with the loved one who was brought in with third degree burns because of the stupid deep fryer. We berate the firefighter/s who took too long to get to our house to save our favorite Christmas ornaments.

So this holiday season I am asking you to go out of yourself. Think about the “public servants” around you in your life.
And not just the ones I listed here, all of them have thankless jobs where we are to ready to gripe and complain about them and we seldom offer any encouragement.
Think of your child’s school interactions, get a present for the teacher for Christmas yes, but don’t forget the bus driver who got your child to and from school safely all this time.
Think about the school nurse the classroom aid and the principle.
What about your mail carrier? Maybe he or she could use a lift of encouragement with a Christmas card just for them, and a small gift would be nice too. (please check if there are any restrictions against gifting first though.)

If you see a police officer regularly (or even better the security officer at your work) bring him or her a thank you note for the safety they provide in your everyday life.

Let these people know they are valued for the service they give. Let them know that they are not laboring in vain.
I am sure if you think of it you can come up with ideas too for things you can do to let them know how you feel.

IT’S MY PARTY I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO

So last week we celebrated Megan’s birthday. (for just about the whole week.) Her Grandpa came to visit (for the whole week) we planned a big party, and we (she) opened presents.
After all you only turn 5 once right?

I was struck by this song and it’s lyrics during her party though, when she lost the second game of musical chairs and had a meltdown. Tears flowing freely and unashamedly down her face, she decided she didn’t want to play musical chairs anymore.
This caused me to think. I have had a few bad birthdays in my life; some of them I would dearly love to change. Is this a trend that she has inherited from me? Is this just a natural issue with birthday parties (so stressful they cause us to break down when we are young) or what?

Now I could attribute it to selfishness; But I am more inclined to believe that this is a stressful situation which a younger person hasn’t got the skill sets to deal with, and so an emotional overload happens.

Of course THAT causes me to wonder; Does this mean that she will be less able to cope with stressful changes than a peer who handles a party like this more calmly? I certainly hope not.

I know there are moments in my life when I have not been as calm as I ought to have been, I have overreacted, and gone ballistic and I have broken down in tears too a time or two.

Of course part of my problem is that I tend to dwell! And I could still tell you in detail most of my bad birthdays and what made them bad. It would be harder for me to tell you what birthdays I have enjoyed.

Well I guess that means I hope that she doesn’t take after my negativity, but I do come by it naturally. I am human and most humans seem to have that streak in them.

Oh well, maybe the next party will be better. She has a new skill set now. She’ll know what is coming up next time an event like this happens.
Until then I hope you all have a great day.