About two years ago, GG went through a "sensitive stage." Certain songs like "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and "My Grown-up Christmas List" would leave her in tears every time they came on the radio. Every time. Needless to say, it was a really weepy Christmas that year. When asked why she was crying, she'd answer through her tears "because it's a really sweet song." Then there was that time in the car when she asked what I was thinking about; and I told her that I was thinking about how much I loved her. I checked the rear-view mirror only to see tears streaming down her face and heard "that was a really sweet thing to say, mom." You get the picture. She was acutely sensitive back then, and to a certain extent, she still is. I've often wondered which one of us passed that onto her.
Until last week.
Jamie and I donated GG's now-too-small clothes to the *Good Samaritan Outreach Center, a place that distributes clothing for free. GG's clothes were packed in plastic tubs that I wanted to bring back home, so I unpacked while the volunteers sorted through the items. There were people who were being helped by other volunteers that day, and some were waiting to be helped. Among them was a mom with a little girl that was maybe a year younger than GG. The sight of the two of them really hit me hard, and I started picking through the tub I was unpacking to see what would fit the little girl, what she might need in light of the changing weather, bypassed the sorters and handed some stuff directly to the mom. When I got done, the mom simply said thank you, and I left.
I called Jamie right after that in a composed state, but when I started telling him about the little girl, I just lost it. GG and I could've been the ones in need, but we've been blessed, that's all. Anyway, my husband is a saint. He waited patiently on the phone with me until my blubbering was over, and said that we'll be going back there with more stuff -- for adults and kids -- from now on.
*We found out about Good Samaritan by calling 2-1-1. If you’re looking for a place within your ZIP code where you can contribute clothes or other items, just dial 2-1-1 from your home phone or 773-0211 from a cell or pay phone.