Batteries Not Included

Beep! Beep! The sound is more persistent with each repeated beep. It gets louder and louder until I want to scream, “Be quiet!” I walk around the house stopping in each room to determine where the blare is coming from. It seems like wherever I stand, the racket is somewhere on the other side of the house. Finally, I narrow it down to the smoke detector that is emitting the piercing noise. Thank goodness that this time it didn’t happen in the wee hours of the morning. The smoke detector is too high for me to reach, even with a stepladder. Tim comes to my rescue.

I don’t ever think about the batteries in my smoke detectors until they remind me of their presence, unlike the top-of-mind importance of a battery on Christmas morning. As we opened our presents the one thing that my parents dreaded seeing was the statement, “Batteries not included.” Some battery operated toys that I fondly remember were my:

• Operation game that buzzed and his red nose lit up when I touched the sides as I was performing a major operation.  
  
• Sister Terri’s Drowsy doll that when we pressed her stomach said, “Mommy I’m sleepy,” “I want another drink of water,” and she cackled and laughed—annoyingly. Well, sometimes we wished the battery would run out of juice.

• Chatty Cathy doll that talked when I pulled her string. 

  
• Brownie camera.

• 3D Stereo View master. 

  
• The little stuffed dog that walked on the end of the leash.

• Reel to reel tape recorder. 

  
• Brother’s racecar and train set.

• Transistor radio.  

  
• Pink cardboard kitchen with a stove burner that glowed red.

Today’s gift was to contribute our used batteries to a grade school student. He is collecting batteries as a recycling project. His goal is to educate people about why they shouldn’t throw them in the trash because they will end up in the landfill and pollute the groundwater. I was glad to say, “Batteries are included” and disposed of sustainably.

In Giving,

Robin

Looney Tunes and Candy Bar Stories

In 1972, I was a 9^th grade newspaper reporter who was known for my column, Looney Tunes, in the The Bulletin school newspaper. I found this in a box in the closet:

Mrs. Kincaid said, “I Am Woman”, but I still can’t get my picture on the “Cover of the Rollin’ Stones.” “Funny Face”, alias Miss Kourey, said, “I’ve been to Canaan and I Want to go Back” when she found out “There is No Beer in Heaven.” Mrs. Lilly exclaimed, “You’re so Vain” since “Mama Don’t Dance and Daddy don’t Rock and Roll.” Miss Tindilia was overheard to say, “Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend” since I saw you “Dancing in the Moonlight” with “Clair” on the “Crocodile Rock.” Mr. Peters cried, “I Don’t Want to Be Lonely, You Poor Little Fool Like Me” since the “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” left the establishment. Mrs. O’Neill said, “Pieces of April Make Her Feel Fine” in the “Summer Breeze”, especially since she has the “Rocky Mountain Highs.”

In later years, I graduated from creating stories from song titles about my teachers to writing tales about candy bars.

Mr. Goodbar and Baby Ruth were given 100 Grand on Payday. They knew it was because they had a Sugar Daddy named Rolo. They were so excited they ran a Marathon and celebrated afterwards on 5^th Avenue. Then the 3 Musketeers tried to get in on the action and get some of the Pot of Gold. They filled their Mounds with Hershey’s Kisses and offered them to Mr. Goodbar and Baby Ruth, but to no avail. The pair kept their Bounty for themselves.

Today’s gift reminded me of those days when Ina, a Klamath Union High School student, asked if I would buy a candy bar to raise money for their school. I didn’t make her listen to my rendition of Looney Tunes or the Candy Bar story to get her money. I am sure she was happy about that.

In Giving,

Robin

The Icing on the Cake

Bettina Banayan said New Yorkers are in peoples’ personal space everyday—especially on the subway. She wanted to make that experience a little more palatable.

She baked a cake and took it on the subway with her. She found a seat, donned her sterile gloves, removed the cake from the container and began frosting it as the subway bumped and lurched through the city. Bettina even trimmed the top with a decorative, scalloped white icing. I’m sure people have seen a lot of things on the subway, but had probably never watched someone put icing on a cake.

When she finished, she asked if anyone wanted a piece of cake and said, “I have plates and forks.” One brave soul finally said he would like a slice and then a few others chimed in. Someone asked if she worked in a bakery. She said, “Not yet, but maybe one day. I’m in culinary school now.” Even the skeptics began to smile as she passed around her homemade cake. Watch the video by clicking here.

This idea inspired me to make someone’s day a little better. A former co-worker was let go from his job recently. He worked hard, but the organization’s leadership did not recognize and appreciate all that he did.

Today’s gift was to send him an encouraging card. In it I wrote that many people would miss his contribution to the organization. I know that he will find a new position where he is appreciated for his strong work ethic and specialized knowledge; that will be the icing on the cake.

In Giving,

Robin

Kids Learning Life Lessons

You may have heard about 13-year-old Danielle Lei who sold 117 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in one day. She and her mother set up her table outside of a San Francisco medical marijuana clinic. It prompted other states, like the Colorado Girl Scouts administration, to prohibit cookie sales outside an adult oriented store. The incident made national news and became a buzz on social media. Many people were appalled that Danielle’s parents would expose their daughter to people taking drugs.

Danielle’s mother, Carol, responded that each year she has her daughters set up shop at various points around San Francisco so they can learn about different environments while earning some cash. The day before this incident Danielle had been selling cookies at Safeway grocery store. Carol thought this location outside the clinic might be a good way to start a conversation about drugs and how some people use marijuana as medicine while others just to get high.

When I was a kid I went door-to-door selling Girl Scout Cookies. Our parents weren’t “allowed” to take them to work to coerce their office mates into buying them. My friends and I said that girls who had parental assistance were cheating. I was reminded of those days when the doorbell rang today and I opened it to see a young boy with a manila envelope full of money.

Our 9-year-old neighbor told Tim and me that his grade school is raising money for field trips, to buy school supplies and uniforms. Tim remembered when he went door-to-door to collect payment for newspapers he delivered while I recalled my cookie selling days.

Today’s gift was to give him money for the school raffle. He told me that he was very proud that he already raised $45. He said he could win a Kindle Fire if he sells the most tickets.

Then, off he went on his scooter with a big smile on his face. Danielle and he are both learning valuable lessons in sales skills as well as life lessons.

In Giving,

Robin

Nature Abounds

Sitting on my back porch I caught a glimpse of a bird sitting in a nearby tree. When I tried to get a closer look it flew to a further tree. I grabbed my camera and it watched me and I watched it. The Red Shouldered Hawk didn’t stay for long, but she did pose for me to capture this photo.

Later I saw an unusual bird, a Junko, on the front lawn. It also posed for me to capture a few photos.

Then I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the beautiful clouds.

Today’s gift was to submit a Nature Abounds wildlife report on the Red Shouldered Hawk, Junko and describe the beautiful day. Nature abounds here.

In Giving,

Robin