Seeds and Fruit

 The winter after my mom died she got a postcard in the mail about an annual volunteer/donation  event.  I highly doubt it was something she was ever a part of, so I don't know how she got on the mailing list, but I took the nudge and went.

It is put on by a non-profit in a lower income neighborhood.  They ask for a variety of new donated inexpensive gifts which are then sorted by volunteers (all the gifts for toddlers in one section etc).  For $1 a child (or parent for the child) can buy a ticket and with that ticket the child (with parental help) writes down five names and ages of  people the child will "shop" for.

Today was that annual gift sale. I think I've been doing this for the past 15 or so years.  

The first few years I was more involved as I helped sort gifts before the sale and helped on the sale day.  They didn't have it in 2020 or 2021.  I was there last year, but going this year I was feeling rather ambivalent about it/disconnected I guess.  However I walked in the door and I heard, "Tammy we're so glad you are here." (I have no idea the person's name who said that to me.)  Then another person said, "Jim says what a great job you do in the auditorium."

Basically the first few years I volunteered at the event day I had a minor roll walking kids from one building to the other. However one year, a key person was sick and I ended up in the auditorium and it was a situation where someone had to take charge and I did.  

I forget that part of myself, because it doesn't come out a lot.  However there were maybe up to 100 kids waiting and they had to be kept in order (or parents start freaking out) and there were a few demanding parents, and I took over and kept things going.  

Ever since then I've had that role.

Last year was a lot more chill.  They've expanded the building where it is held, and maybe reduced the number of kids?  I'm not sure, but it wasn't a big deal last year.

Today went pretty smooth, though at one point we did have a backlog of kids and a few parental complaints to handle. Afterwards at least two random people came up to me and said, "You are good at that." I find this mind boggling, basically all it takes is a plan, clear communication, boundaries, and a bit of smiles and kindness with the kids.  I do often look at the other adults in the room and think, "Just be clear!"  I don't know, I guess that is how are strengths go, they just come naturally so it is hard to understand other people not getting it.

I know my dad felt that way about many mechanical things that were beyond me.

So I was more than grateful to have shown up today.  After I got home I thought I'd just lay on the floor and rest, however I wanted to clean the kitchen floor and I still had the vacuum in there from this morning when I broke a glass.

I ended up looking up how to clean the compressor on the refrigerator, something I've never done before but heard of. And then I cleaned the prints off the front of the fridge AND cleaned the floor.

So now I'm going to have dinner and then head off to another annual event.  It is the kirtan and Rumi poetry night I've been attending for years.  Although, I don't think they had it  in 2020 and 2021 and last year I missed it so it's been a while. The organizer usually remembers me there too though, because I am one of the few people that recites by memory (instead of reads) a Rumi poem. It is an event I introduced my former partner to, and one he enjoys. I know he went last year and he may be there tonight, so it is especially nice that one of my cousins has been listening to some kirtan music and when I mentioned it to her, said she'd like to attend with me.