Spread Some Glad!

Hallelujah! Back on the computer and happy to be here!!

So many stories, thoughts, ideas, new learning experiences... ups, downs, and all around the roller coaster of life!. And away we go...the first one...

Today I had a 9:30 Mammogram appointment at the radiology center. It's a yearly date for 'the girls' and 'it is what it is'. Annoying...yet necessary.

On the way to hospital, I stopped by the farmer's market and from my favorite vendor, I bought 25 colorful, gladiolas, 2 sets of bloomin' sunflowers, and 3 small bouquets of mixed flowers.

Cradling the 25 glads in my arms, I entered the hospital by way of the emergency room as I do whenever I volunteer at the one day surgery desk. I stopped at the ER window and said to the two women working there,

"Pick out a flower!"
And I explained the 'glad routine' that if you pluck off the bottom flowers as they get past their prime, the gladiola will continue to bloom- flower by flower- all the way to the top! What was the result? Great big smiles and a more scenic ER waiting room!!!

On to radiology, and as I signed in, I had each of the staff members behind the glass window 'pick out a flower!'

As I went back to the x-ray room, I recognized two women who I met back in the 70's and we were on the same softball team. And then a former student, now an x-ray technician, smiled and we chatted about her career as well as her sister and two brothers whose paths crossed with mine in my classroom. I love seeing former '10 year old friends' become adults and venture out in the real world.

"Pick out a flower!"When I was done with the 'mammo', I asked the technician how many women had appointments today while she was there.

"Ten".

"Pick out 12 flowers...one for you...one for the room...and then ten flowers...one for each of the women who would certainly be 'glad' that they were taking good care of their health and the fact that it was over for another year!!! "

What did I see?
Great big smiles!! And I managed to 'squeeze' [get the pun?] a colorful addition to the stark machinery of the x-ray room.

On my way out, I stopped by the CEO's office and also to a doctor who I know is on the committee to hire new doctors, to remind them that we have not one rheumatologist on staff in the entire city and I, for one, will be GLAD when they manage to recruit one...or two. I know they are working on it, but so far no living, breathing rheumatology group has signed on the dotted line to help people who have one of the 100 different kinds of arthritis!! Neither of the two men were there and so I said to each of their secretaries,

"Pick out two flowers...one for you, and one as a visual reminder for your boss to further the cause. "

What did I see? Great big smiles! One of the secretaries said she would bring her flower to her 95 year old mother in the nursing home. Gotta like that!

As I exited the parking garage, I passed the last gladiola to the woman in the booth who collects the parking money for hours. More smiles....This is fun!!

At home, when the man who gathers my recyclables and trash stopped by on his regular weekly stop, I gave him one of the mini bunches of sunflowers to give to his mother [95], and the other bunch of sunflowers went to a friend's mom to keep her smiling while her daughter was away on vacation. What did I see? Great big smiles!

And I know that... as the flowers went to the many women whose smiles I didn't see firsthand...there were still smiles happening. And that little bit of encouragement goes on to influence their family's lives. On and on and on...And that is my motivation. My flower shower would not be considered normal [whatever that is!]

I share this only as a means of getting others to think of different ways to help generate some smiles. Bring a bag of Hershey Chocolate minibars to your next doctor appointment for the office people. I witnessed a man do this, and let me tell you...the smiles are big. Unexpected gifts are the best!

I don't want compliments for me. I want to know that you will join the wave. And how?

Glad to be back!!