THOSE SAD OLE WEARY WINTER BLUES
December through February is always a struggle for me. Every winter I have difficulty because of the short, dark days and I get those sad old weary winter blues. January is the absolute worst - the combination of post holiday let down, gray misty weather, super short days and cold. No matter what I do, and trust me, I have tried everything, the winter blues take over and I have many days of sadness and depression. My friends and neighbors know this and check in with me often and my husband gives me extra hugs and somehow I make it through. I do have a grand plan to one day get a house in the Caribbean as my January escape. And as soon as I win the lottery . . .
One day several years ago during those dark days of winter I was in such a funk and just couldn’t pull myself out of it. I stopped at a store after work to do some “comfort shopping” which I rarely do but I could not bring myself to go back to my dark, empty house to sit and be blue. For some reason I was drawn to this particular store and started picking a few things up for Christmas. I noticed a whole rack of fluffy winter blankets that looked so super soft and plush I wanted to curl up and get cozy under one right then and there. As I fingered the blankets in my fragile state, I flashed back to a blanket that my friend Gigi had sent back in 1989. I remember the date because Drew had just been born and Sam had just had surgery on his hand after cutting it on some glass. Gigi and Joan, two of my friends from the East Coast had sewn and sent to me a good size downy baby blanket with the picture of a teddy bear quilted into it. They happened to finish it around the time that Sam had cut his hand and knew I was going through a difficult time. I had received that blanket on a particularly worrisome day after Sam’s surgery when besides Sam in his post surgery state, I was also taking care of a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a new 6 week old baby. When I opened the box I curled up on the couch, pulled the blanket up over me and cried feeling hugged by my dear friends who I missed so badly. So, today, when I saw those blankets and they felt so soft and comfy and that memory flashed through my brain I knew I had to buy a new fluffy blanket to cuddle under and get me through the winter. And so I did.
I went home after purchasing that blanket ready to curl under it until dinner time. But before I did I went to my den to drop off my bag. There I found on my desk a few pictures from an old album that I had scanned. I went to return the pictures to the album before they got lost and when I did, I came across a card that I had saved and tucked in the album. Now I have many many albums and I save many old cards but I keep my cards in several stacks in my bookcase in a separate room from my albums. This was the only card tucked into this album and when I opened it up to see who it was from, much to my surprise it was the very card that Gigi and Joan had sent with that teddy bear blanket 28 years ago! My mouth dropped open in incredulity as I read their words. I curled up under my new blanket with that card clutched against my chest and I cried. I cried because of the kindness of dear friends 28 years ago and how that kindness came back to me in the form of a memory and a card and helped me when I once again felt overwhelmed and lost. Although their words were meant for a different, difficult time, they still resonated with me that day under different, difficult circumstances.
About a month after this happened, my granddaughter, Effie, was born at 26 weeks gestation, only 1 pound 9 oz. My daughter in law, Roge, was very ill and we were very concerned about her. While Roge was recovering, I took that blanket that I bought that day and covered Roge with it and encircled her with all of the love and memories that came with it. And I dug out that teddy bear blanket and gave it to my new beautiful baby granddaughter.
Funny how the world just keeps going around and around and this stuff happens again and again. I’m sure some people would pass this incident off as just a coincidence but I believe otherwise. I believe that any kindnesses offered stretch like warm taffy through the years and even through generations bringing together friends and family and strangers. Their power is immeasurable and never ending. Although you offer a kindness to one person, one time, you may never hear how that kindness had an outcome that was not originally intended, making an impact on a person’s life who you may never meet.
“THE MEMORY OF A GOOD DEED CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM THE HEART OF ONE WHO IS GRATEFUL.”
UNKNOWN AUTHOR