Superstar

There is a street in Denver called Old South Gaylord Street. It is historic and houses a boutique called Pome.

A year ago I went to Pome with my Durko-sisters. We were on vacay and Suzette sold her baby bibs there, so it was a must-see. Pome was the distilled essence of everything in my life that had ever made me happy. Quirky + innocent + Europe + vintage + meaningful + circus + glitter + perfect packaging + one-of-a-kind + I-wanted-every-fixture-and-prop. My heart palpitates as I type this.

I spent over $100 on the world's smallest post service kit, etched glass jars, crystal knobs, a set of stamps involving Little Red Riding Hood, a reflexology card kit, a finger puppet of a Buckingham Palace guard (Kate & Will!), a spy camera for RE and a French milk pitcher (which I hide my dark chocolate in inside the china cabinet). Pome is owned by Kate. Kate and I were like long-lost twins separated at birth with a mutual love for all things Tinsel Trading Co. She even had square business cards with quinces on them. We hit it off to say the least. Well, as much as you can hit it off in an hour at a store one small day of your very long life.

A few months later it was Thanksgiving. I prayed that I could be part of a Christmas miracle. I know I watch too many Hallmark movies and I get completely swept up in Good Will Towards Men, but I really wanted to be a part of something special.

December flew by, as it always does, and I toiled and made nine Christmas stars that month, an act that should have made the Guinness Book of World Records. I gave them to friends and neighbors that could appreciate them. I thought of Kate and her magical store and perfect taste. I knew she would like a star because she made bouquets out of vintage Christmas light bulbs. On a whim I penned a letter and shipped out one carefully-wrapped star.

Christmas came and went. It was merry but I didn't really feel like anything miraculous happened. Oh well.

In May I was chatting with Suzette on the phone and she mentioned that Kate had called asking for my address. This was a relief as I had never heard from Kate and figured I had either creeped her out, an employee stole her star or it got lost in the Christmas rush. I tried to forget about it because I like to adhere to GIVE AND FORGET. RECEIVE AND REMEMBER.

In June we headed to Denver for Greg to do some work and for me to see my youngest sister Rat that lives mere blocks from Pome. A visit was mandatory.

When I got to Pome Kate rushed out from behind the counter and gave me the best hug and proceeded to spill. She told me how she had been meaning to write me a letter but every time she tried she got too emotional and couldn't go to that place and had to abandon ship. She had been wanting to thank me for sending her the Christmas star and letter that arrived on the worst day of her life*. By the time she was done we were all in tears (Rat, too, the poor little innocent bystander) and I was lit up inside. I'm not going to divulge Kate's life story, but I am so glad I mailed that star on a whim. I remember thinking after I mailed it, "I only met her once. She's going to think I'm a stalker. This is weird."  But it wasn't weird. It was a miracle. My Christmas miracle in June.

"We can initiate and partake in small miracles on behalf of others—miracles that we are uniquely prepared to do, and that only we can do."

"Do small things with great love."

"Believe in your capacity to do some good in this world. God sent us here for a purpose, and that purpose was to improve the world in which we live. The wonderful thing is that we can do it."

I have learned this lesson multiple times. Don't suppress a generous thought. Don't ignore that flash of "I should do ____ for ____" that streaks across your brain during the day. It is wonderful to be the giver. It is also wonderful to be the recipient. I am beyond thankful to have been the recipient of others' timely love so recently in my life. Throngs of people reached out and personally filled each hole in my heart. It doesn't take much to fill a heart hole. They're pretty small. A gesture will do. It's the timing that's big.

Complete text for quotes here. One of the best speeches I have ever heard.

*And I don't believe in coincidences. I believe we are being watched over, and I believe the quote by Spencer W. Kimball, husband of Camilla, who said, "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs."