“Some days are like keys…….

They open doors to a better understanding of why we are here….today was one of those days.  I will never close this door…”

This is something that I posted on my Facebook status earlier this week as the day was winding down and my heart was so full that I just had to write something.  The 12 hours prior to that post were amazing.  It would take too long to share the story but I will share the ending.

The above necklace I gave to a lovely woman as a result of a comment that she left about my jewelry.  I have never met her.  She lives in Minnesota and that is all I will  reveal as her story is very personal.    Her comment spoke so deeply to my heart that I wrote her and told her that I wanted her to have the necklace – as my gift.    The emails that passed between us were amazing and I am forever changed as a result of them.

That day was a key to a deeper understanding of the word gift.   The “key” opened a door that will never be closed.  My heart is still full with the memory of her words.  I will give again – for the pure joy that comes from reaching out to another person, be they friend or stranger, when they are in need.

That day was a wonderful day – my heart fills again just thinking of it.

read this first…

and then I will explain…..

“I just sent you an email of a blog that one of my dear friends wrote with a picture of an angel necklace. The angel made me think of you for many reasons, but mostly because of your love for angels. When I read the blog I knew she was meant to be yours. I admire you and Lettie so much for your talents and the way you pursue them. Now the three of us are connected and that makes me happy.

I wore this angel for a day  – touching her, thinking of you, praying for you, knowing that one day you would wear her and think of me and she would lift your spirits as she did mine. I know Lettie wore the angel necklace also as she does all her necklaces and thought of the unknown person that it would find a home with. Now it’s time for this angel to take flight to her new home.”

This is a copy of a note that a dear friend of mine included with the angel necklace shown below.  The necklace was a gift to a woman who has just entered seminary at Princeton.  The blog that she references is one that I wrote called “on the tiptoes of my Fred Flintstone feet” dated 10/7/2011.  There are many things about this angel that reminded me of where I am in my life at present.  She also represents many of my friends and the questions and subsequent faith that they have in themselves.  Perhaps she is a reminder to you of some of your acquaintances as well.  The above note is confirmation to me that we are all connected….

Nothing makes me happier than when I find out that a piece of my jewelry turns out to be more than just jewelry.   And like this angel – I am still standing on my tip toes…..

in my pajamas….

It was like one of those anxious dreams where you are back in school but have forgotten to put on your pants…but it was not a dream.  I was caught in my pajamas at a gas station.  For real.

I had been to Atlanta to spend the night with my daughter and awoke early last Tuesday morning at 6:30 am.  Before I was thinking like a sane person I had the brilliant idea to beat the heavy downtown traffic by getting straight into my car and making a hasty departure.  My daughter tried to get me to change clothes but I assured her that I was awake enough to drive and would just go straight home and get dressed in Vidalia.  It is a three hour drive in optimum traffic conditions.

So… I made a quick pit stop before leaving – did not take the time to brush my teeth – picked up my bags and got right in the car in my pajamas.  I was just so smart!  I sailed through downtown and was south of Atlanta in minutes – yeah!  I called Eliza and told her I was OK and well south of town and then popped in some Broadway show tunes to pass the time.  It was a beautiful morning – I watched the sun rise and laughed at the other people stuck in traffic who were headed into the heart of Atlanta.

Everything was in my favor because I had left at 6:30.  Macon was a breeze also and I was soon on I-16 – the last stretch of interstate until the Vidalia exit.  Singing and driving – I slipped into a parallel universe and was enjoying the ride when I noticed that ugly little orange light pop on just beside the fuel gauge.  Oh my gosh…..I had forgotten to check my gas gauge before leaving Macon.  Anyone that drives on I 16 knows that the exits are few and far between.  In that pit of my stomach  – in my parallel universe – in my pajamas – I did not know where I was.   My mind’s “mapquest” data knows just two exits – where to get on and where to get off.   It is about an 80 mile stretch between so there is lots of time for singing and thinking and just whatever.   I was deep into the role of Aida when I saw the orange light so I had to snap back to reality.   I turned on the lady in the GPS  who has steered me wrong one too many times to consult her about gas stations.   She was little help.  No surprise there.  I don’t like her – never have.  The distance range was indicating that I had only 6 miles left before I was empty.

Panicked and in my pajamas!  No support anywhere if you get my drift.   I was about to run out of gas on the interstate with no underwear on.   As the “distance left to go” was shrinking right before my eyes I spotted an exit and zipped right off only to find that there wasn’t a station at the top or within sight.  There was nothing to do but get right back on and keep calm and carry on.  I was not, however, calm.  I was a zany mad woman…absolutely NOT in the mood to sing.

With less than 2 miles left to complete empty I spotted another exit sign – just one mile up the interstate.  I started doing that thing where you coast and accelerate – trying to make it, which I did.  There was a lone gas station with only one pump in site.  It was the kind of station that I would never stop at.  It sold bait and gas.  Good enough since all I needed was gas.  I got as close to the pump as I could and opened the car door to hide behind the pump while I filled the tank but to my horror there was “no pay at the pump”.  I was going to have to go in!  There were men inside drinking coffee – uh oh.

It was morning social hour at the station!   I finished fueling, mustered up my dignity and then started the slow walk toward the door with just a thin layer of jersey knit between my girls and those guys.  The windows were tinted so I could not tell how many fellas were inside sipping.  I walked as gently as I could so that things would not jiggle…  Once inside, I greeted all of the fellas as if I always wore my pajamas to get gas,  paid for it and then turned slowly (and gently) and left.   As I drove away I looked in my rear view mirror to see if they were laughing….I was!  I liked those guys for being country gentlemen.  I might even patronize that station again  – for gas and maybe a bucket of bait,  just for good measure.

on the tip toes of my Fred Flintstone feet…

This angel is me.  The folded arms, the wide hips, the messy hair – even her little Fred Flintstone feet.  There is not a crown on my head – yet!  But I am hoping….

I am waiting and with arms folded and embracing my confusion.  Standing as tall as I can I am on my tip toes and breathing deeply.   I need a “God wink” to give me direction.  My path has clear defined edges but I don’t know where it is going.  The scenery is beautiful though and for that I am grateful.  Today the sky is as blue as the bead in the photo above the angel’s head and the breeze rustling the leaves is like angel song.

But guess what?  I have good company!  So many people that I am acquainted with are on their tip toes also.  They too are holding their breath and waiting for something or someone to clarify their place in the world.  Maybe it is our age.  Maybe it is the economy.  Maybe it is ____________ (you fill in the blank with your “maybe”)…

Let’s promise each other not to give up.  Standing on our tip toes can only strengthen our feet and they are what keep us grounded.  I am breathing deeply and looking ever forward.  Today?  My mission is to find a crown….