SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

Worth recycling: The lunch bag lesson as learned by (me!) ~topps

 it was not meant to be a lesson, i don't believe.  what happen, is that, while i was working at alden lane, prior to their annual february event: inspiration by invitation  aka passport to spring..

one of the projects that needs accomplished in advance is the decorating of the paper bags.  the paper bags will, on the day of the event, hold pre-ordered lunches, some flyers and treats, and will have sticker name tags making them easy for the participants to find

in truth, it is just a paper lunch bag. one time use.  its destiny is the trash can or recycle bin.  and, the decorations will not be judged, in many cases, will not even be appreciated or noticed.  it's the kind of thing that, if there were no decorations, no one would ever complain; if you add some decorations, it adds to the overall vibe and decor for the day, but..  not high on any importance scale.

it was a productive and constructive and creative thing for us cashiers to do, in between customers, to keep us busy and out of trouble

and, on the day i am remembering there were 3 of us..  3 of us who all delight in any creative activity.  decorating paper bags for mixed media artists is like a promotion..  "thank you!"

and each of us, arranged paper punched flowers in a unique way on each bag..  a sticker of some sort, little paint doodles..   it was fun!

and here is the big lesson i've never forgotten   

each paper bag was decorated slightly differently; sometimes very differently; but each bag was unique.

apparently a time crunch arose, and we were all given instructions to finish the rest of the bags in a hurry; just get it done.

all 3 of us responded the same way to our new instructions.  we quickly made the exact same drawing/design on each bag until there were no bags left.  each became a copy of the one before.  

the bags themselves are of little value; but the lesson is vital. 

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:40 AM 0 comments

Funny, Wild and Wonderful Christmas Gift from (taryn! & jack!)

and i realized that the yesterday's mascara smeared around and under both eyes might not pair well with my pretty new dress.   and i did try it on with brown boots, and then with my maroon boots, but..  

these ($5!) strappy sandals ended up the winners in my imaginary footwear competition photo op. 

and speaking of winners,  look who else all nonchalantly worked their way into my photo..   -how cute is that!?

anyway, 

i'd like to share a little more 'bout this dress.  because it has more than one, funny/wonderful; embarrassing/permanent memory that has attached itself to the wild and free, serengeti-ish fabric.

i know exactly the store i saw it in for the first time; exactly what town the store was is; exactly why i never bought it myself, and a little bit about maybe why my kids surprised me with it for Christmas.

We were in Walnut Creek for a mother/daughter; mother/daughter shopping day.  That is, it was me and my daughter, Taryn, and my neighbor friend, Fancy Nancy, and her daughter, Mei Rose.  Let me say for the record, Taryn, Fancy Nancy and Mei Rose  -they all LOVE! fashion, LOVE! shopping.  And, when i learned Fancy Nancy & Mei Rose had not yet experienced Walnut Creek for shopping, I realized that is exactly where I'd like to go..  how exciting to introduce someone to a city and experience that will be entirely new to them; yes...

Have i mentioned, about how i self-elected to stop driving on the freeways in most (but not all) circumstances?  And will skip details here to just say,  -how grateful I am, Fancy Nancy offered to do the driving..  /in her fancy Tesla!

and we did land in Walnut Creek on a particularly beautiful day!  and i did enjoy being able to share a memory here, a memory there, as we approached and landed in the city.  [and my sister worked at the Nordstroms..  my daughter was born...  and, my aunt and uncle vaughn with their pottery in the wine and art festivals..   etc.]

and i understand about passions..  fashion passions..  even though i'd rather tithe at a paper or craft store; i can easily! totally! understand the exact same enthusiasm being expressed toward fashions.. designers.. shoes..  purses..  etc.   [or, as seen on my recent post; toward automobiles...]

it is just wonderful to find that, or those, somethings that light the fire within each of us; yes..

and it was with this understanding, that i let the other 3 women lead the way..   and, in some cases, me n' my daughter went to a different store, or different floor, to explore.. while Fancy Nancy and Mei Rose went in their own direction.  But then we'd meet up, to swap information, and met up to enjoy lunch together.. and met up for dessert.

The only store i knew i HAD to see!  and hoped everyone else wanted to SEE.. was ANTHROPOLIGIE.

it seems to me they are more tame now; but! in their earlier days, there is NO STORE anywhere that could be more exciting and creative when it came to merchandizing.   That is what attracted me.   i had no desire to shop for clothes or products; i only wanted so badly to see how they had decorated their store..     and i took several pictures.  they can be counted on to be different; creative; intriguing; imaginative..

and their walnut creek store, which is two floors, is just a magnet..  you are welcomed with an indoor plant nursery practically, and plus wonderful fashions, and plus creative displays, but they also have home decor, accessories of every kind, a wedding dress/bridal dress section, furniture..  on and on.

and on this mother/daughter shopping day, i enjoyed the displays, but i did find myself attracted in a strong way to this animal print dress.   -what a cute style..   nice neck line..   wearable length...   and for all skirts or dresses i am more likely to try it on if it ALREADY HAS LINING, a slip.  i am past the age or desire of not wearing a slip; and, i know in advance, i'm not going to make an additional or separate purchase for a slip.. so, once i found that this animal print dress was already lined..   that's when i started looking closer at all the tags for my size..

and now, it's true, i've lost a little weight..  and yes, on purpose, via the very well tried and true eat write and exercise program, so whereas i would usually look for a 10, or 8, i was just certain i should grab a 6.

Grab a 6 i did, and headed for the dressing rooms.  Aren't dressing rooms the very best!  during the pandemic, i had cause to buy a swimsuit.  you cannot..  that is, I definitely cannot purchase a swimsuit without first trying it on.  every woman knows this.  but for a brief time, no stores allowed anyone to use their dressing rooms; period.  that meant, (as advised by the Macy's cashier) we had to purchase all 12 swimsuits i kinda liked; go home.. try them all on, and bring back all the ones I didn't want and return them.    -what a pain in the

anyway..  i am in a wonderfully open and accessible dressing room at anthropologie with a size 6 pre-lined,  animal print dress, and very excited to see if it fits and what it looks like on me.   i started to wiggle it on..

and i pulled gently at first..    and then a little harder..   and then started wondering 'how in the heck do you get in this thing?   -should i try stepping into it vs. pulling it over my head?   and as i continued to pull the dress over my head to cover my body.. with still a little more force, that is when i realized

it must have a zipper!  i forgot to unzip..

and with my arms restricted slightly by the tightening of my unsuccessful attempt to 'slip' into this dress.. i reached here and there, like a blind person might do..   feeling around to find any kind of zipper, or button, or anything that could help..       

at last! it turns out this dress has one of those shorter zippers that is camouflaged on the side of the dress (not the back),  wonderful!

but what happen, is that even though i found the zipper and i unzipped the zipper..   that extra 6 or so inches of increased space

it didn't do a thing.  not a thing!  and so, in great frustration i realized, just take the darn thing off..  this is getting stupid..

but when i tried to lift it back up and off   -wouldn't budge.   honest to God.. i was stuck.  i repeated to myself, that if i found a way to get it half way on, i could, scientifically, mathematically, and most definitely figure out a way to get it completely back OFF!

now, if my sister were there..   we would both be laughing so hard we'd be crying..   but my sister was not there

and where was my daughter?  and where were Fancy Nancy and Mei Rose?   no one was even within yelling distance.   and truth be told, i wasn't quite sure whether my daughter would find it funny.. or she'd be embarrassed; could go either way when you are the parent and not the sister or friend..

i just knew if i tugged too much harder the whole dress would rip.   and i did just stop eventually, all my pulling, wiggling,  -wondered if it was time to call for help..   

thought better of it and prayed..   

if i got in it.. i can get out of it..   help me Jesus, amen

and, there are a large number of people, who could have spun this very awkward situation into an entertaining story that got everyone laughing that very same afternoon; but i am not one of those large number of people

i was exclusively relieved to finally get out of that dress without calling 911.   embarrassed and relieved.

did my daughter point it out?  did i discover on my own?  i don't remember this very important detail, but at some point, 

yes, maybe my daughter pointed it out..    because at some point, i got to see that "oh!

OH!  the tag reads UK 6..   not US 6!      

a UK size 6 is a US size 2!    and as i've mentioned a couple times now, the only 2 anything i should be wearing are 2.0 readers so i can read the tiny font on these clothing tags.

well, of course.. then it made perfect sense why i couldn't get all the way in it.

i can laugh now..  many months later.     but that day, even after i learned about the UK/US thing..  i never looked for a US 6 instead, i just wanted the whole experience far behind me.

****

and i did see the dress again..   and again, with my daughter, and with my mom too.. this time at Valley Fair Anthropologie..    and i looked again..  but, 

even though i knew how to read and interpret the tag sizes by now, i didn't bother. 

****

i liked just remembering about the rest of the walnut creek day..  all the other stores, our lunch together at the Nordstroms cafe..   how everyone found something they liked..  how fun, for all of us to be walking around downtown, each one of us with a shopping bag in our hand..

and i like remembering, how on our way home.. well, Fancy Nancy, in her Tesla..  and how the car has a computer and GPS to help her navigate, but even with all the pre-programmed safety bells and safety whistles; mistakes still happen.   sometimes it is other drivers, and this time..

well it was her; -small mistake by the driver.   and she had to change lanes in a suddenly kind of way, and another driver had to honk at her

and in my imagination write away i saw my dad and brother, in my imagination write away, i also heard my dad and brother..

all the light-hearted jokes they told back in the day..    how many times they would see a bad driver (or a driver make a bad move) and immediately check and see and confirm   "chinese!"   or, even worse it seemed,  "woman!"

in this very case, we have both.  Fancy Nancy is a Chinese Woman. 

but what she did..

she employed the same tone as my dad and brother, only she pointed to the other driver and said, "korean!"    and that had me internally laughing all the way back home.

**************

*******

-so can you see how moved i was, to open my Christmas present from my son and daughter, and find this dress..   

it's a US 8.  and it fits perfectly.

Joy to the wardrobe!   amen. 

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 11:04 PM 1 comments

Family Christmas Polish Feast (1 & 2) hosted by Robert & Sandra

a smaller gathering for what is one of two polish feasts we will host this year.  but as to the quality of the meal, the family, the visits, the gifts..      only enormously grateful; feeling very blessed

and!  on top of the recent historical victory by the vikings, we got to enjoy a crazy never-seen-it-before victory by our raiders.     Extra merry in the Christmas     amen. 

Polish Feats 2 of 2: 

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 2:48 PM 0 comments

What a concept! Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2023 VIP tickets

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 2:39 PM 0 comments

You don't believe in God, but you do believe in OCD -an interpretation by (me!) ~topps

and so, my daughter, she shared a few second video on social media with me.  tik tok? not sure, but i watched and listened..   

i said nothing in response to my daughter at the time; just watched and listened, and then watched a next video, and a next..  scrolling through profound to humorous; mundane to inspiring

but my mind and heart returned that evening only to the young girl who concludes her video by stating "so, i don't believe in God, but I do believe in OCD  [obsessive compulsive disorder].

****

before i provide my interpretation, keep in mind:  I can only provide my spiritual, Christian, interpretation because I am a Christian; and have ongoing exposure to the Bible; Bible teachers; a student for life!  

keep in mind also, i have come to appreciate this quote as a truth about people in general; evidence of free will:  if you do not want to believe in God, there is nothing anyone can say that will make you believe.   if you already believe in God; have a relationship with God, there is nothing anyone can say that will steal your belief

****

my very first initial reaction to the video was this:  wow! she sure didn't make the enemy have to work very hard to steal God away from her!    a temporary victory for the devil   I don't believe in God, but I do believe in OCD   in my imagination, i see the devil with a giant grin and God with infinite love and patience. 

this brought to my mind the scriptures/parables about the seed being scattered..  Matthew 13 (abbreviating/paraphrase)

        as he scattered seed, -some along the path and the birds ate it up

                                         -some among the rocks, where there was not enough soil; too shallow

                                         -some scorched by the sun and withered because they had no root

                                         -some among thorns; which grew to choke other plants

                                         -still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop,  - a hundred,                                                     sixty, or thirty times what was sown.  He who has ears, let him hear

the next scripture that sprang to my heart/mind:   hold every thought captive..  2 Corinthians 10:5

and i realized, the beautiful young woman in the video was mature/healthy enough to be able to observe her own thoughts.  That practice alone, takes a certain amount of time to develop

but she could share out loud, what she hearing in her mind..   [i'm going to skip several chapters here about the origins of everyday thoughts by everyday people; but..  worthy of much study!]

in any case, she could repeat out loud what her internal thoughts were:   her interpretation was that these "wear this or [some form of punishment to her family]", and she [mis]interpreted those thoughts initially as coming from God

but, it is obvious to (me!); as it would be to any Christian (and perhaps to many other mature human beings of various faiths, maturity levels)   -those thoughts should have been held captive and then immediately cast down.  -not incorrectly interpreted as coming from God

hold the thought captive..  discern validity..   throw it away if it does not stand up (for Christians, this is to hold the thought captive and discern whether or not it stands up to the light and love of the word of God.

anyone who has even a basic understanding/relationship with God KNOWS God is not going to tell anyone to wear a certain thing or your family will be punished/cursed..   this thought would be checked; cast down, and proactively replaced with a healthy thought

this work, this exercise, it does take awareness and practice; a life long exercise..

moving along, i also found the scriptures about 'daily renewal of your mind' surfacing..    Romans 12, and Ephesians 4:23; and Phillipians 4:6; Colossians 3:2.. and there are more..

and then, lastly, but not least..  i have been remembering how profound for me..  and as it applies to this video..    how true; how it plays itself out in every day life over and over; how much better i can see it now, and respond accordingly:   the weapons of our warfare are not physical (carnal/flesh); but have divine power to destroy strongholds; we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil...           ; and, be sober-minded, be watchful, your adversary,  the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour..    ; submit yourselves to God; resist the devil and he must flee..

2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7; 

*****

please keep in mind, i interpret myself as being, rescued & restored by God!  a survivor of multiple life threatening traumas; PTSD which was at severity levels that usually claim lives..   

****

and so, what if this beautiful young woman were taught to hold her thoughts captive; check them for their validity; cast down wrong thoughts; replace with healthy thoughts..

****

and, how i would LOVE to see this:   this very same video, watched/listened by a variety of people, and interpreted for all the world to see/read:   i have provided my interpretation; but leaders of various faiths; agnostics; atheists; etc.  along with some health care professionals; psychiatrists.. 

it is important to recognize that we are all interpreters. we are all placing a template (belief system) of one sort or another over our own life; and over humanity in general.

does your template say we are all here via cosmic accident?    -things like love, hate, forgiveness, generosity/selfishness; joy/despair; gifts/talents, suffering; transcending suffering..    -all born from a random cosmic bang within randomly manifested space and time and gravity...  that somehow spontaneously organized itself?

you are free to believe.. 

and i am free indeed.   John 8:32

Jesus Christ:   the chain-breaker; the pain-taker; the way maker..    hallelujah & amen. 

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:56 AM 0 comments

"SKOL!"

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 2:47 PM 0 comments

my life long and still true love... (me!) ~topps.

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:01 AM 0 comments

signs and wonders to (me!) ~topps

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 10:47 AM 0 comments

2022 Christmas Brunch & Cookie Exchange Party hosted by (my mom!) Sharon Zuro

kids are comin' home for Christmas..   lots to do!    Praise God, Hallelujah & Amen

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:01 AM 0 comments

2022 Family Christmas Card Design by (me!) ~topps

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:59 AM 0 comments

Speaking of LIGHTING UP SAN JOSE! thoughts on Breeze of Innovation, by (me!) ~topps

from the motivation to go into great debt to build a new city council, 

to the motivation for the breeze of innovation, 

to my light up all crosses idea..

     the thing we all have in common, is wanting to make San Jose extra-special.

a destination.   a place people from all around the world would want to visit, and -

more importantly; be glad they did.

*****

at first glance, i was all YES! THAT WOULD BE AWESOME! in regard to breeze of innovation.

   -before seeing the price tag,  -but which will be privately funded and maintained according to their website. 

and, i smiled to read all the letters to council members in strong favor of!

and then nodded in agreement when reading the many comments in San Jose Spotlight, which strongly oppose.

*************

and, i would love to see this breeze of innovation manifest..   it looks stunning, and  -will serve as a stage for live bands!    -i can see the potential..

but, unless, and until we address this ongoing and growing crisis: 

        people with drug addictions * people with mental illness  * people prematurely released from jails and prisons  * people experiencing extreme financial hardship *  trespassers, loiterers, drug dealers, transients in general

this growing population of people living on the streets, the graffiti and garbage encroaching upon every residential neighborhood, and business district; the number of stores leaving, having to get iron bars across their doors and windows; the number of businesses abandon and boarded up; the overall ugly and threatening vibe/environment

the area is not currently worthy of something so valuable and beautiful.

If you place a beautiful, well designed, water-fountain in the middle of a park in a 'bad' neighborhood;

this does not result in a 'good neighborhood'

what happens, is that your beautiful, well designed water fountain gets destroyed.

If you were to successfully erect this breeze of innovation, in our current cultural climate, 

it would be targeted, tagged, ruined, vandalized, destroyed, and,  in no time -flat.  (pun intended)

all the potential visitors, from all around the world, you envision coming to enjoy it...

no.

not when they would be forced to step over drug addicts passed out on the sidewalk; guard their children from half-naked people screaming obscenities; fear leaving their cars in parking lot, have to guard their every belonging from potential theft..   step over garbage..

we need to first and foremost, 

make the area safe and clean and attractive; maintain that safe, clean and attractive environment for more than a year; have a proven system in place for keeping it that way..

and then...   and then, 

revisit this stunning idea, 

in the meantime, i'm going to plug my own LIGHT UP SAN JOSE idea again, because..

it can be done in every district

it would not cost enormous amounts of money

it would make San Jose extra special, beautiful, unique!

and it could help light the path toward a safer, cleaner, more attractive San Jose, which is not currently ready for something as valuable and breathtaking as Breeze of Innovation, 

"Lighting the way to San Jose!  cheers! & amen!" 

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 1:52 PM 0 comments