Today was rather short for me. I went to school for an exam, finished within 30 minutes, then had to decide what to do next. I had promised to stop by my brother-in-law's house to continue ongoing body work on my car, which has been a blessing out of a bad situation. More on that shortly.
So, before I kept my appointment, I ran out to get a half-dozen bagels and a coffee. 3 asiago cheese (our family has been pronouncing this variety wrong for a while, but saying "Asah-gi-oh" instead of "Ah-see-ah-go" hasn't diminished our enthusiasm for eating it.), one cranberry, one chocolate chip, & one cinnamon sugar. Vanilla Hazelnut coffee was my favorite offering last time, so I chose that with my take-out order.
Which is all to say is that this day started out well and has been continuing to be so. I arrived at my sister's house as she was completing an essay for an advanced writing class. She asked for my feedback as I sipped my coffee and nibbled on my chocolate chip bread circlet. She is an excellent writer, but was anxious from her morning coffee & the first-person emphasis in the MLA paper. It is a tricky balance to include enough of your personal experience while keeping an academically professional distancing between your writing & you.
By the end of the day's work on my car, I had removed the lights, sanded & primed the bumper, replaced the lights, & used bondo to smooth over uneven paneling. After taking a corner tap on my left headlight, I have been assisted by my brother-in-law, John, who has been instructing me on how to repair & refurbish a car. He has been ever-patient despite my hesitancy at each stage. I wanted clear direction & assurance for what I was to be doing. I don't mind the work, as long as I know I am not wasting effort in an elaborate, yet fruitless, pursuit.
After I was done with all this, I retired to his house to stay the night. I brought 3 lbs. of gummi bears, as I prefer to buy in bulk: I am disinclined to leave my house unless something important requires my attention or piques my interest. Thus, return trips to the store hold no allure. Buying in bulk is insurance against that, as well as an excuse to enjoy easy access to a large amount of a good thing.
One of my most distinct memories of my brother-in-law's gracious nature concerned snack food. We were on a day-trip to snowboarding resort. As he opened his trunk, an buffet of snacks was laid out. My siblings & I stared at them politely, in knowledge of the value & enjoyment of eating such foodstuffs, but recognizing the invisible lines of sacred ownership from years of surviving in a large family. John smiled knowingly, & announced. "I know that people don't like to be the first to eat another's food, so I will break that for you." John then opened all of the bags & boxes, sampling a first share of everything, then allowing us to partake in the same bounty. I was grateful to be understood in that unspoken courtesy, & even invited to share freely in the same. I am honored to say that, as I am in his hospitality even now, that spirit endures to this day.
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