What Its Really All About

    This afternoon I was waiting in front of Harborview Medical Center and two women in a small pickup truck pulled up, rolled down the passenger window and the driver yelled up to me with a big grin, "Thank you for the smile!  I really needed that today!"  How sweet a moment.

    It's a good reminder that our brothers and sisters are often in need of even some small relief from their cares and suffering.  Such a simple act and yet so powerful.  It is good us all. 

7 Benefits of Smiling and Laughing

and if you need more reasons...

15 Facinatinhg Facts About Smiling

Happy Trails Mom

    Our mom crossed the Great Divide this week.  She was many things and certainly rascal was one of them.  She had a fabulous sense of humor and loved to make people smile and laugh with her.  It was a great pleasure to look out after her for many years. Our time together is such a precious treasure.  Love you mom and miss you.

Are you you or are you your brother?

    Growing up as an identical twin gave me a wonderful view of people and their often imperfect attempts to connect.  It is one of the things about people that I truly enjoy.  The recent comments about my nose revolved around famous people (Patch Adams) and the weather (cold freezing mornings).

"Are you that guy?"

"Did they make a movie about you?  With that comedian guy, oh ... what's his name?"

"Hey, I bet you got the warmest nose around."

    All this was just so fun.  Thanks folks for the great comments. 

    I usually carry a few spare noses with me in my backpack.  I was crossing I-5 on an overpass with a freeway exit.  There was a woman with a cardboard sign begging for money from people driving by.  I was standing near her waiting for the traffic light to change and she turned and laughed at my nose.  She asked me for money but instead I asked her if she would like a nose.  She thought about it for minute and then decided it might help with the begging and promptly placed the nose on her face with a grin and a wave and off I went wishing her the best of luck today.

Familiars

  I got on the #71 Metro bus this morning at 7am.  As with neighborhood commuters I see the same faces every morning. Most folks tend to ignore me.  It always amazes me that they can get on the bus and simply not see me with a big red rubber nose and a silly grin.  A few glance at me then look straight ahead as they look for a seat (not around me). A smaller few break into a smile and those very rare people actually sit next to me.  They are the most interesting people in the world and share with me their lives and insights. 
  Today I was greeted by three regulars who all began laughing at the same time.  Ahhh...how sweet that uncomplicated and innocent joyful expression. 

Trader Joe's in University District

  Ahhh...Sunday morning grocery shopping with Vicki.   After a lovely breakfast at home of homemade pancakes with eggs, some of my homemade kombucha tea, and a hot cup of coffee, we decided to do some grocery shopping.  We found a parking place right in front and a cart waiting for us by our car left by the previous patron I would guess.
  Once inside Trader Joe's, I notice that people looked so serious! Bordering on grumpy...hmmmm.  So I put on my clown nose and soon everyone was smiling.  The mood in the store actually improved dramatically.  A much happier vibe.  We came home with lots of yummy/healthy food to eat.
 

New Friends

Jumping back a few weeks. I met a new friend and fellow merry maker, Dawn, on the Harborview shuttle.  She so loved the nose and donned the one I handed to her.

More than twice the fun!

Cafe Vita and Mom

  I picked up my mom at Kline Galland nursing home lending library and whisked her off to Cafe Vita to have coffee with me this morning.  Despite her dementia and physical slowing down, she walked all the way to the car in the far end of the parking lot enjoying the crisp cold morning air.  A welcome change from the uni-temperature of the nursing home.  I packed her into the car and buckled her in. "Click" she announced with a grin when the seatbelt was locked into place. 
  It took a while to get our coffee due to the long line at Cafe Vita in Seward Park but mom hung tightly to my arm and was busy watching all the young people buzzing around.  While they were getting our coffee order ready I took mom to a table. I nice woman who had been in line ahead of us, brought our coffee to the table! Sweet. Mom appeared a bit spaced out and waiting for something.  I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my clown nose and popped it onto my nose!  She burst out laughing that wonderful spontaneous childlike laughter.  Too Fun!  When she stopped laughing, she said, "Andrew you are a rascal."  I replied, "I learned it all from you mom."  Then we had another good laugh.
  I love you mom!