Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Oranges

Today I took Olivia out for ice cream after her orthodontist appointment.

A Korean woman owns the ice cream parlor.

She gave me two oranges, picked off the tree in California two days ago, flown up yesterday.

She gave them to me for no reason. Just to be nice.

I brought them home and after dinner I cut up one. Only one.

It was hard not to eat the entire orange myself. (I let the Dashingly Handsome Sidekick eat two slices.)

I'll save the other orange for tomorrow.

Reminds me how much I love simple pleasures and tender mercies, tossed in my lap when I least expect them, even by strangers.

And I am so grateful for generous people, who share even when they don't have to.

I want to be -- need to be -- more like that.

(Maybe I need to start with saving more orange slices for my husband.)

9 comments:

  1. Sweet story, Amy. You do such a good job bringing your everyday life into your blog in a charming, memorable way. I need to do better at that (in addition to being better at being kind and generous).

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  2. I love this. Sometimes it's something like receiving a few oranges that we remember years later as a nudge to do the same.

    I pray you remember and pay it forward.

    So cool.
    ~ Wendy

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  3. What a great perspective on such a simple gift. Your grandma used to tell the story of her Christmases during the Great Depression. Their biggest present each year was an orange, a single orange, per child. She said it was a huge treasure. It makes me realize how spoiled I've become.
    -Aunt Sandi :)

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  4. What a wonderful story. I love how her simple gesture taught you a life lesson. And you write about it, thus teaching many more people. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I love nice people. :o)

    It's important to be kind and generous, but gratitude is also important. Thanks for sharing your gratitude with us.

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  6. Good post :)

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  7. *smiles* Love the cute ending! Sometimes it's the small things, right?

    Hey, I saw Lady Jane over the weekend. Loved it! You had mentioned it on your blog and I just had to see it.

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  8. Sweet story, Amy! I'm working on being nicer to my husband too...tonight I cooked him super. :)

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  9. This post made me smile. Especially the part about sharing more orange slices with your husband! I can relate!

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