Author Archives: melinda

Random Acts of Kindness

Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty. 
~ Anne Herbert

When I lived in Evergreen, Colorado a friend who had recently moved to Boulder came to visit.  She showed me, on her car, Boulder’s “unofficial official” bumper sticker: “Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty“.  She said everyone in Boulder had one.

The next time we met, I drove “down the hill” to Boulder. Of course, I checked out the other cars in town while I was there. Sure enough, nearly every car that had a bumper sticker said “Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty“.  Excellent. 🙂

Random Acts of Kindness Week is the second full week of February each year, corresponding, appropriately, with Valentine’s Day.  The Foundation’s website offers great Random Acts of Kindness Ideas.  (click this link for a few, or bookmark it if you like heartwarming stories all year long.)

Since arriving in Sacramento, I started keeping foil packs of tuna fish, chicken, Vienna Sausages, granola bars, bags of prepackaged trail mix, etc. in whatever vehicle I’m using.  There are a lot of hungry people in this town.

I don’t know if it’s a constant for this area, or a sign of recent times. I don’t give cash to people with those signs by the side of the road or at the entrance to the Post Office. I wouldn’t want to support an unhealthy habit or make them, or me, a robbery victim. I give them food.  I’ve been handing out a lot more lately.  And smiles. Always smiles.

Well, you know it had to happen.  One day I saw this: “Practice Random Sarcasm and Senseless Acts of Irony“.  Ok, it was pretty funny. Probably done by a writer.

But you know what?  Seeing that bumper sticker in traffic made me laugh.  How ironic.  For me, it was a random act of kindness.   🙂

Randy Pausch – The Last Lecture

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.
~ Randy Pausch

I just left a meeting with some great folks discussing the book The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch.  (Did I mention earlier that I like to read?)

I found this book heartwarming, heartbreaking, and instructive.  Our group leader sent me the link to a video by the author, for those who are interested.   I recommend the book – it’s wonderful.  And in the meantime, make yourself comfortable and watch Randy’s lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.  Randy’s lecture on YouTube

It’s probably better than anything on tv right now.  Hmmm – reality television, or real life learning?

😀

Melinda Bennington’s Poetry

Life In Me - anthology of love poems             LPR Social Justice Cover

I’m honored to have my work, Losing Words, included as one of the love poems, above, and to have Charly’s Shoes, Returning, in the Social Justice issue of the Little Patuxent Review.  Click the tab for more information on these Published Works!

Favorite simile ~ more to come…

I’m in the process of bringing my old posts to this new blog. Stay tuned for more (true!) stories like…

  • becoming bicoastal
  • meeting Bigfoot! 
  • the sunny side of being hit by a car on my bike 

For now, my favorite overheard simile: “Living in Maryland in the summer is like being in someone’s mouth.”  ~ Matthew Abbott 🙂

The sunny side of rain

I found out why there haven’t been any birds on my bird feeder.  They were waiting for today! It’s finally cold, pouring rain, and miserable outside, after an unusually sunny and beautiful fall and early winter. Now there’s a gorgeous bluejay at the suet feeder, and four little birds that look like California Towhees around the birdseed bell.


I actually had no idea what kind of birds these are. Well, I guessed on the blue jay. I’m not a “Birder,” but I do have a computer. Check out this website, and you, too, can be a bird geek!   http://identify.whatbird.com/mwg/_/0/attrs.aspx

It started as a cold, wet, dreary day, but now I’m snuggled up with a mug of tea and my blog, smiling at the awful weather, and the precious little creatures it delivered.   

Voting, and Research

Spending time in multiple states gives you a greater exposure to, and appreciation for, the differences in local and state politics.


As an American voter, I listen to all candidates debate on television.  But as a writer, and member of society, I believe in RESEARCH. So I don’t just watch what the networks and candidates choose to show. I dig. 


Voting records are available for our Representatives and Senators in Congress.  Project Vote Smart is just one site with easy searches on candidates. http://www.votesmart.org/election/2012/P/NA

I also think it’s worth checking the official record: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htmand http://clerk.house.gov/legislative/legvotes.aspx


How long does it take to inform myself about the people I choose to represent me, and to make good choices for our communities and country?  Definitely not as long as it takes to earn my way into a higher tax bracket as a writer!  Not even as long as it took to drink this cup of tea.

Word for the day:
Merriam Webster defines HOPE as “to cherish a desire with anticipation.”

My publication rate doubled today 🙂  Just found out that my poem, Charly’s Shoes, Returning, will appear in the Winter 2012 Little Patuxent Review: Social Justice issue.  The Little Patuxent Review, based in Howard County, Maryland, and covering the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond, covers a different theme in each issue.  When I heard the winter focus, I smiled.

Social, political, and policy issues can be very complex.  In a world that often frames things as either conservative or liberal, religious or secular, black or white, it’s easy to offer only two choices.  Looking at all the nuances, the exceptions, the complexity, is harder.  It takes more work. My links page shows just a few ways we can try to be informed. In polarizing debates, the humans get lost, sometimes.

I don’t write much about policy; I write about people. In this case, a boy traveling alone in the Sonoran desert. Thanks, LPR, for selecting Charly’s story.

The Way

As a visitor to Sacramento, I’ve met some wonderful folks, but today set out on my own to see a movie all by myself.

I just saw a film that I loved, called The Way. Emilio Estevez directs and acts with his father, Martin Sheen, in a touching film about a physical and spiritual journey. I saw an interview of the two of them that made me want to see this, and it was worth the trip. Loss is inevitable – a natural part of life. Sometimes loss can make room in your heart for new gifts.

Jazz church in Sacramento

My dad played in a jazz band while I was growing up, so we spent many weekend afternoons at “jam sessions”.  I felt right at home when I visited a church in Sacramento today that had a jazz band instead of an organ. 


Cool.


At lunch after the service an older woman ahead of me introduced herself. 

I asked, “Have you attended here a long time?”  
“Oh, I used to attend here, but now I just come back for the luncheon each month to see all my friends.”
“Did you move?”
“Just churches – I like a more reverent service, not all those horns!”  


I had to laugh to myself. 
Hmmm… Trumpets?


But being new in town, I was grateful just to be there, and was sure she was as comfortable with her preferences as I am with mine. All I could say was…


“Would you look at that pie!”