For Whom The Bell Rings

This past week, I had the great pleasure of ringing bells for the Salvation Army at the new Walmart location.  I would like to thank everyone from my favorite club, the Longview Kiwanis, who helped despite the cold temperatures and biting winds. I have never rung these bells before.  Some of you have been doing this for years either directly for the Salvation Army or with your clubs Pioneer Lions, Kelso Rotary, etc. and I commend you for your continued passion.  During the first few minutes, I was a little apprehensive and thought to myself “Do people look at me weird? Do I look like a fool?”  A lot of people were donating whatever change they had and some completely ignored me despite my smile, looking them in the eye and saying “Merry Christmas”.

This went on and I was still a bit uncomfortable with the whole process until two things happened. I saw one lady give what looked like a $20 bill and an older gentleman stopped, shook my hand and said “Merry Christmas” back.  That was it.  From then on, I did not care what people thought about me.  My goal became greeting as many people as possible and hope they would contribute to the Salvation Army’s cause.  One guy stopped and donated because the Salvation Army had saved his life.

If that does not touch you, I don’t know what else will.  My expectation of the process had completely changed and showed in the number of greetings reciprocated to me and by the time the Captain, David Davis, took over the last shift for the day, the pot was almost full.

I am so very proud of the bell I received as a souvenir and also have a new-found respect for all those serving at various locations in our community.  Life has taught me some interesting lessons over the years… the one I learned this day is that ‘giving back’ is everyone’s responsibility and while we may not be able to give everywhere we go, I hope you are giving somewhere, somehow.  Even if you can’t give, be nice and greet your fellow human beings.  It doesn’t cost a thing.

Giving Thanks in Cowlitz County

It is a glorious day. No sounds of birds chirping or squirrels running on the tree branches. Just silence, not even the sound of snow melting and dripping water in the drains despite the sun that is shining so bright. I breathe in the crisp winter air as my eyes adjust to the light and I prepare for what lay ahead. It is not a day to dawdle. Much work needs to be done. The driveway has to be cleared of snow. This tall fir tree in my yard looks magnificent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         I wish I could lie down in a hammock and admire it and the blue sky but summer is gone and the snow is here.

Ever since moving to the United States 16 years ago, my favorite time of the year has been ‘the holidays’. Thanksgiving and Christmas are great opportunities to get together with loved ones and catch up with their lives. Heck, I even like Christmas music a lot now. I was playing it the other day while cleaning the house. Some jazz infused music channel on the DISH Network and it was good. If I don’t clear the driveway, we will not be able to make it to Thanksgiving dinner. It is supposed to remain cold and dry so the snow will not melt on its own. We got more than 8 inches in a single day and my AWD vehicle cannot navigate the steep climb without some help. Should I go get my iPod? Not charged.

Dang, this is going to be a long day…

I hear the snow plow on the road. No, that’s the neighbor. Cool, at least his truck will leave me some tire tracks to work on. It’s been three hours and the sweat has soaked through my ski cap and is running down my back. The water I drink is so cold I have brain freeze. I have achieved a certain amount of expertise with this process. In order to save the gravel on the driveway, I scoop up the layers of snow above the gravel and dump them on the grassy part. Then I use the snow shovel like a plow and move the last layer of snow to one side exposing the gravel. This way I can recover the gravel once the snow melts. Sound good?    Hey, I do this every year and process improvement is second nature to me. If you know me, you understand.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It is late afternoon, my arms and back hurt from the repetitive work. I wonder if a Snow Blower would be a good investment. Maybe next time… besides, this is good exercise and I don’t like being cooped up inside the house on cold days like this. I will not be able to work on the upper part of the driveway today. My lungs are screaming for rest. You know, a few years ago I could not imagine myself doing this. I was a city boy, a ‘metro’. I lived in a rented apartment and maintenance was someone else’s responsibility. Living in the country and owning a home with acreage is quite a change but I understand now why people do it. Freedom.

I wonder what my fiancé is going to make me for dinner tonight or is it my turn?    I sprinkle ‘ice melt’ on the tire tracks going up the driveway and hope tomorrow will be less grueling. When I reach the top, I am spellbound by the scene before me. I go back to the house and grab my cell phone again and hope the 5 Megapixel camera in it is good enough to capture this panorama in the fading light.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       As I walk back down the driveway, knowing that tomorrow may be just as much work, I am thankful for the life God has given me and the people in it.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Be safe and love the people in your life.

- Aman