I was blissfully happy this weekend. I actually had hours - hours, I say! - to myself. Most of my time was pretty self-indulgent: got my hair cut; nails and toes 'cured; rambled around the farmers' market; bought the perfect red lipstick at Mac; read the one-millionth Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel (Austin and Thackeray are turning in their graves); yacked on the phone for an hour with a wonderful friend; watched a couple episodes of True Blood: Season II. Enough, you are no doubt thinking. No more of your life of luxurious indulgence! How, you may ask, did I have all this time? And what the heck does this have to do with the name of this post?
My dear hubby, Dan, took the kids camping at a Vermont state park.
That Dan is willing to plan, pack, load and cajole to make this all happen in relation to me not doing any of it is thoughtfulness enough. He knows there are two activities I dislike supremely and one is camping; the other is downhill skiing (Yug!). But their is more to this thoughtfulness tale. Gather round the fire, children:
On their first night camping, Dan and the kids, and our family friends C and E heard that there was a storyteller/musician at the campground performing at 7:00 pm. They were interested in going but stew was bubbling on the fire and they could only stay until around 8:00 pm. Dan, being the upright soul that he is, went up to Mr. Storyteller/Musician and said that they were excited to be there but that he was sorry, they'd have to walk out around eight to finish the dinner preparation - and that he didn't want Mr. S/M to think they weren't enjoying the show. Mr. S/M was so touched. He thanked Dan profusely and said that people just usually walked out - and that he wanted to make sure he did something special for them before eight. He played the saw.
Isn't that a great story? But the moral here is that Dan's thoughtfulness made Mr. S/M's night (well, that and the $100 check he probably got from Vermont State Parks). Little tidbits of thoughtfulness take little effort - but the effects can have a great impact. This is as true in the workplace as it is in our everyday lives.
I did make Dan a birthday cake because I'm not gong to be there on his birthday. That was sort of thoughtful. I made it from scratch. Chocolate butter cream frosting. Oh, heck, I'll give him a big smooch when I get home and tell him he is the most thoughtful man in the world.
Side note: Another thoughtful camping tale: When Dan and B went camping with Uncle D., the second night the camp ranger came up around 9:00 pm to ask them very nicely to keep their voices low because they were on a hill and the sound carried throughout the camp. They were not talking loudly at all. Dan thinks it's because Uncle D was sawing major zzzzzs the night before keeping Dan and B - and most of the camp ground, obviously - awake the previous night. Uncle D. took the hint and slept in his car. Thoughtful of the camp ranger; thoughtful of Uncle D.
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