The Iced Tea Fairy

It's been a tough haul lately. Since Mom's GI bleed, two years ago on Labor Day, she has needed around the clock hands-on care. Before the pandemic, we had amazing home health for overnight visits and my girlfriend, Geri,  helped by letting us slip out for dinner or a movie. But since mid-March, it's been pretty much  me, 24/7. I'm up and down with Mom all night and just like as I did when my sons were babies, I nap when she does. My goal is survival. 

Add to that the very real stress over our current situation. The news cycle constantly reports the latest pandemic news, the latest tweet, the latest clash.  Facebook, which was once my connection to the outside world, has become a source of pain and misunderstanding. On top of it all, our pug got bit by a copperhead! It's enough to make a girl want to run far, far away from home! 

BUT...

The unexpected kindnesses of friends keep me going. 

Anybody that knows me well, knows I have a terrible fondness for Bojangles Iced Tea. I know, it's terrible for me and pre-pandemic, I tried to ration my iced teas to once every week or two, usually when running a string of errands. The sugar high and the hit off caffeine, delivered in ice cold swallows, light up all the happy places in my brain. It's a delicious, occasional boost. 

But pandemic=no Bo drive-through trips. 

So imagine my delight, when, as I exit the house to get my mail from the mailbox or take out the trash, andI find on my front porch a fresh half gallon of Bojangles iced tea! Just out of the blue! Completely unexpected. I sweep it up like a long lost love, and dash inside. I use my favorite Tervis, fill with ice and pour out  a sparkling glassful. Then - ahhhh - pure pleasure! 

My tea is delivered by an iced tea fairy. I know who the tea fairy is - a long-time friend that I've know since my boys were in elementary school. She is source of many kindnesses and much thoughtfulness. She checks in regularity and wants to know how I AND my mom are doing. I always text her when I discover the iced tea fairy has dropped by and if too much time has passed, she'll text me to tell me to check the porch.  A social distanced surprise! 

But it goes far beyond that iced tea. It's caring, remembrance, contact and genuine concern. And that iced tea is truly a drink of kindness. 

I have other fairies that keep us going during this pandemic. The friends who regularly send cards to my mom light her up. April, Charlotte, Marge, and Pat are regular card and postcard senders. Others send her a card less frequently - and they are so appreciated. Geri, Nancy, and my kids' middle school science teacher, keep me occupied with Words with Friends. I'm in a group text with 4 girlfriends that keeps me laughing. And Geri video-calls me frequently.  And on Friday, I had the sheer joy of a phone call from the daughter of one of Mom's friends,  a text from one of Mom's former caregivers, and messenger messages from one of my nephews checking on her. Each and every gesture fills me - and Mom - with the a joy and a sweetness as good as the one I get from Bojangles Iced Tea. 

Kindness is how we will get through whatever comes next. Thoughtfulness and checking in. Sharing what we have and caring about other people. I pledge to do a better job of checking in on my friends. I can't do much, but I can text, call, or send a card. 

Things that divide us abound: mask policy, reopening strategy, social distancing, and a two party system that constantly sets us at odds with one another. But those only distract us from what is really important: our family, our friends, our neighborhoods and communities. If we put people first - we will never go wrong, never get sidetracked in our faith by a  society that threatens to spiral out of control. There's so much we can not  control. But we CAN control the compassion, care, respect, affection and love we feel for those that are so important to us. 

Shakespeare was onto to something when he coined the term "milk of  human kindness." Only now, in the thick of the pandemic, I'm very happy to enjoy "the Bojangles Tea of human kindness." Thank you, Jo! 

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

                                                                                           - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV