The Basket Lady

The week before Christmas, found me at home miserable with an obnoxious head cold. My temples throbbed every time I tried to blow my nose or cough. Too many aches and pains to do anything but feel miserable.

Pam Kaubris gave me a Pooh bear that asks for a snugglely hugglely when you press a button on his tumm. Clutching Pooh bear, I was about to drift off into slumber-land when suddenly, there was an unexpected knock on the front door.

“Oh, brother,” I thought. I’m still in my pooh bear pajamas. I’ll just go to the door and tell whoever it is to go away.

When I opened the door, Diane Mitchell was standing on the porch holding a vase with two red roses along with a card that wished me a Merry Christmas from Donna Landry. Diane was terrific. She didn’t even flinch at the sight of the walking wounded still in PJ’s.

Last winter, battling a case of the flu and the blues, Diane brought a gift of flowers that really brightened up my day. It seems that Diane is an earthly angel who knows how to care for others at just the right

time. She deserves The American Cancer Society’s distinguished award for outstanding volunteerism.

Diane’s an angel in training- God’s advocate and helper. “Thank you, Diane and congratulations, too!”

At the beginning of 2010, a goal that I set for myself was to give away a basket a day for 365 days in the year. At first, the idea to give out that many baskets seemed rather daunting and I wasn’t sure that I could do it.

I gave myself an “out” by keeping the resolution to myself rationalizing that if I didn’t succeed in giving away a basket a day that no one would be the wiser but me. Truth is, I don’t do anything half way.

The basket lady projects are a community service that I love to perform with passion and love. In this month alone, I stopped counting after 50 baskets were made up and given away because I not only attained my goal but I exceeded it before the year had ended.

I did change my mind though and told lots of people about my basket a day goal because by doing so, I received donations of baskets from various community members from Oxford to Franklin County and beyond.

If you know someone who could use a pick me up or sunshine basket, please contact the Basket Lady via the Rumford Falls Times or at 357-2266.

The memory of Dot Sanchas inspires me everyday to be the best person that I can be, failings and all, in this circle of life and to most importantly, have a heart of gratitude to God for each new day-each new moment of life.

A heartfelt thank you for a kindness shown and for a job well-done to the following angels in training:

Lem Cissel, Carrie and Jim Rinaldo, Joyce and Robert Saisi Family, Albert Smith and Barbara Jean, Cherri Crockett, Kiya Seigel, Cindy Giroux of OFCU, Barbara Morse, Judy Lovejoy, Jolene and Richard Lovejoy, Louise and John Marcellino, Todd Wardwell, Troy of Dead River Co., Peter Orino of Mardens’s, Sharon Walker of House of Peace, Richard Hutchins, Jennifer Kreckel, Ellen Snow, Diane Patterson of Riverside Reality.

Kindness not only counts but it adds up! Remember the theme: Get a basket. Give a basket.

We miss you everyday, Dot Sanchas! Until then, smile and live in the present.