Yesterday morning I found that I was grouchier than a Bear that has just emerged from winter hibernation, and is powerfully hunger.  At first,I wasn’t sure why I was so out of sorts, and then I realize that the next day (today – September 4th) was a day I have chosen to do Random Act Kindnesses (RAK’s), as a way of honoring my youngest son life.  I lost him 5 years ago.  I wrote this blog  that explains the idea behind the RAK’s.  To read this post, click here.

I decided I needed to be kinder to myself and do some things to help me move through these feelings.  I went back to my roots.  When I was a teenager, and I was bothered by something, there were two things that I would do, that always seem to help me.  I would either go for a walk/hike in these mountains, or sit by the creek and listen to water. 

I chose the later yesterday morning.  I went down and sat next to the creek for a good long while and just allowed my thoughts to flow freely.  After a while I sang a song that always brings me comfort, and I said a prayer. 

I could feel that a lot of my grouchiness had slipped away, and decided I would head back to the house.  As soon as I got there, Danny asked me if I wanted to go to Hotsprings (he knows I love the little town of Hotsprings, NC).  I asked him why he was going and he said that our other son (Jeremiah) had called and he needed help with cutting out a tree stump on a steep hill. 

I was relieved at the thought of this distraction today and it would be nice spending time with my eldest son.  I grabbed my cameras and my writing notebooks and we headed over to Hotsprings.  What a beautiful day it was.  The sun was shining, people were out and about everywhere in Hotsprings.  It was a day that felt like one I remembered from my childhood.  A lazy day of summer, where families and friends were milling around the streets of a small town and you could feel their contentment, their unspoken happiness.  It felt good. 

I hung out by the creek, while Danny and Jeremiah  worked hard on trying to cut out the tree stump.  When they were getting close to being done, I wondered up to where they were on the hill and I video taped the last big chunk being cut off.  Here is the Video clip:

Danny and Jeremiah

 

After they were done, we went and had lunch at the Smokey Mountain Dinner.  Great little dinner in Hotsprings.  One of our favorite places to eat.  Great food and good service.  Be sure and stopped by for a bit if you find yourself in Hotsprings.  You’ll love it. 

Danny and I went back home.  The house was pretty hot and I figured I would run into town and pick up groceries, since it was the hottest part of the day.  I needed things for the picnic I had planned for today.  I wanted to have a nice day at one of our swimming holes today.  Where we could relax, eat, swimming and enjoy ourselves. 

I headed towards town and I got only a few miles down the road, when a bird walked, yes I said “walked”, right out in front of my car.  I tried to miss it, but I couldn’t.  Sadly I hit and killed the bird.  At first, I started to feel my mood to shift.  I was already struggling with loss and now I just hit and killed this bird.  But despite what happened, I thought I would turn around and pick up the bird, and take it back to Danny and we would at least eat the bird, so that it would not go to waste.   

When I turned around and got back to the bird I had hit, I pulled off the side of the road and I put on my emergency blinkers.  I jumped out of the car and I ran over and grabbed up the bird by its feet. 

When I got back to the side of the road, I looked at the bird closer and I realized that I had hit a grouse.  I was so surprised.  Grouse are hard to see in the wild around here, let alone have one literally walk on the road right out in front of your car.  I have never heard of this happening to anyone else.  It was so strange standing there holding that Grouse and coming to this realization.  Then all of a suddenly a strange woman’s voice said behind me “are you ok” and I turned around and a woman and her two young children had pulled up in a blue SVU beside me, and I hadn’t even noticed.  I was so caught up in that moment. 

I showed her the bird and explained what had happened.  She told me that some guy she knew had just told her that the same thing had just happened to him, but she had not believed him (I wouldn’t have either, before yesterday), but now that I was telling her the same thing, she believes him now.

She said that she had some friends on the North Carolina side of the state line I live on, that eat road kill and she was on her way to visit them, and she would take the bird to them eat if it was ok with me.  I thought for a brief moment, and then I said sure. 

She grabbed a plastic bag out her car and we bagged it up and she jumped back in her car and headed towards NC. 

I have been hearing about these folks who live in NC and eat road kill, so I was not surprise when she mentioned this.  I have not met these folks yet, but we live in a community where neighbors know one an other and they talk to one another and the talk gets around. 

One my way into town, I realized that this was one of my first RAK’s – not killing the bird, but gifting it to complete strangers with no expectations of anything in return.  A simple Random Act of Kindness.  That brought a smile to my lips and fond memories of son. 

Today is the day of Random Act of Kindness I have chosen (even though I perform them through out the year).  We have a picnic planned for lower Paint Creek.  I’m not sure what this day holds for us, but I would encourage everyone  to find a way to do a Random Act Kindness today.  No matter how small or simple it may be.  The RAK will ripple like a wave through life.  Even though we may not see all the places the wave may ripple out to, you can feel good in the knowledge that it is kindness that is being rippled out through your community, the greater community, and hopefully the planet.  That thought is enough to bring a big smile to my face. 

Enjoy!

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