The Basket Lady

In the Good Humor Town, we’re all very proud of Mr. Bob McPhee, the epitome of courage and determination. I’ve admired his inner strength from afar for years after a conversation with Pam Kaubris, while we sat in the waiting room of Dr. Bruce Ross, a local dentist.

I own a copy of Mr. McPhee’s most recent book.

I’m not an everyday got-to-look at my e-mails or face book person. That requires sitting down for long periods of time staring at the computer screen (if that’s what it’s still called these days), scrolling down lists of things that I don’t have the vaguest clue about; then my head begins to pound from straining my blue eyes to read that…stuff.

For example, one such posting from JC Penny’s’ started out,”Hello Sunshine!” Oh, that’s nice, I thought before I deleted it.

The posting from Publishers Clearing House started out with a bang, “Millions are just waiting at your door! Push click to claim your million dollar dreams today!” Oh, that’s a real attention getter, millions of… I’m assuming dollars. Deleted.

Suppose I literally believed that all I had to do was just “click” a button and a million dollars would poof, just appear at my front door?

Then, a million questions would surface like, why me? What am I supposed to do with all that money? What about the taxes? What about all those relatives (that I didn’t know) and friends just appearing from out of nowhere pleading for a loan?

It’s fun sometimes to buy a lottery ticket or two and once in a while, I will buy only one. I’m not opposed to money but that’s not how I measure the quality of my life, either. Friend, my hope is that you still have big dreams and that you won’t be afraid or ashamed to set your sights as high as the sky even if your dreams may not make sense to someone else.

Don’t allow the fear of failure to sabotage your dreams. Fear is, false evidence appearing real. Don’t let fear fool you. One of my life’s dreams has always been to be of service to others in a myriad of ways. Thanks to my friendship with Dot Sanchas, that dream has come true for me in a million ways.

I’m very thankful and humbled by the kindnesses shown to me every day by the individuals who drop by with donations for the basket lady projects or who send thank you cards/notes sharing how much getting a basket meant to them or the phone calls from individuals that I don’t know (yet), who want to donate items to put into the give-away baskets.

I’m blessed a million times over. Amy Grant, a popular country singer says, “Blessed people bless. Hurt people hurt.”

Be a blessing to someone today. Give a basket filled with hope, happiness and love. Better yet, gift yourself with a basket.

Kindness not only counts but it adds up! We miss you every day, Dot Sanchas!

Until then, smile and live in the present.