Resolution

Posted on January 8, 2014 by pearlsandfire

Whenever I hear of a friend, colleague, family member or acquaintance that is going through some kind of rough patch, I resolve to always reach out in some way to let that person know that someone is thinking of them and they are not alone.

I was recently informed that my position was being eliminated. I am so grateful and touched by all the wonderful people who have said something encouraging to me in the hallway, stopped by my office or dropped me an email or left a voice mail message just to let me know they are thinking about me and in many cases pledging offers of assistance or propping me up by saying that they were shocked when they heard the news. Something so little, so simple and it means so much.

I know that most people are uncomfortable and because they don’t know what to say, they end up not saying anything at all.

With experience and empathy comes wisdom. I resolve to always reach out.

I Must Have Blinked

Posted on May 22, 2013 by pearlsandfire

Tall and graceful greeting her guests at the door

Easy, natural smile

Deep dimples and a warm embrace

And a sincere “Thank you for coming”

Fuchsia summer dress, demure, elegant, timeless and uniquely her

I blinked and there she is, newborn fragile in her proud brother’s arms

I blinked and there again, suffering to breathe in the hospital

I blinked and she’s twirling in circles, princess dress and tights puddling around her ankles

I blinked and she’s on a porch in the bright beach sun and a cherry red Popsicle is dripping and melting and staining her father’s crisp white T-shirt that’s as long as a ball gown swimming on her tiny frame and her cheeks and lips and hands are stained and it’s a wonder any Popsicle found its way into her mouth

I blinked and she’s flying down the field red pony tail bobbing and shorts too big for spindly legs

I blinked and she’s memorizing a Shel Silverstein poem and I catch myself surprised that she not only memorized the words but she’s delivering them and it’s funny

I blinked and commanding presence on the court and there is no I in team

At strange times insecure, she underestimates her gifts and diverse talents

Standing back watching her tall and graceful greeting her guests at the door, I blinked because my eyes were wet

Red Bird Sighting

Posted on April 5, 2013 by pearlsandfire

Standing at the kitchen sink

Dish drudgery…fill the dishwasher, empty the dishwasher…staring out the window

Backyard remnants of winter, spent shrubs, broken branches, brown and grey

No leaves except the dead ones piled against the back fence, brown and grey

Brown and grey

Flash of color zips across the yard, lands on a branch, darts and bounces, pecking, looking, hopping, sailing

Flash of Spring

Savings for Dishes

Posted on October 24, 2012 by pearlsandfire

I’m sitting at the dining room table with my laptop, a cup of coffee and a creamy white serving bowl next to my laptop. As is my routine these days, I got up early to work out on the elliptical machine and then went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and unload the dishwasher before getting my family up.

As I was putting the dinner plates in the cabinet, I noticed the stacked serving bowls on the next shelf. On the bottom of the stack was a bowl I have had since I was in high school. It is creamy white Nikko brand from the “Classic Collection”. The bowl is shaped like a stop sign — is that octagonal? And has a ridge pattern just below the rim. In another cabinet, there is a matching serving platter in the same pattern. Somewhere along the line, there was a third oblong shaped serving dish.

Why did this particular serving dish catch my eye this morning? Well, first off is its longevity. The dinner plates are only a few years old and we’ve already chipped most of the set and completely broken all but three of the cereal bowls. This Nikko serving dish is definitely quality to last so long. And it has been a long time indeed. These plates survived high school and college and graduate school and marriage and kids now approaching college age. And standing there at the cabinet, I thought of all the time that has passed and all the apartments and houses this plate has been in and all the meals for friends and family it has served.

And then I remembered how I got the dish in the first place. I had opened my first savings account for my babysitting and math tutoring money. The bank was offering a promotional incentive to encourage people to make deposits. A set of serving dishes could be earned. And earn them I did. I felt so grown up and planful. I wasn’t even out of high school and I was saving for my future and envisioning my first apartment. I probably paid 4X what the dishes were worth and it took me years to earn them. But I did earn them. And I still have them. And I still use them.

Lessons From a Funeral

Posted on July 28, 2012 by pearlsandfire

Having kids, from time to time I’ve wondered, “when are they old enough to learn about death?” Should I raise the subject with them? Do I wait until they have questions?

My husband’s uncle recently died and instead of the “stay-cation” week we’d originally planned with trips to amusement parks and museums, we traveled out-of-state for the funeral. While my husband was at the mall buying a new pair of dress slacks, I explained to the kids that our priority was the funeral, supporting Daddy and his family, and honoring the memory of Daddy’s uncle. If there was any time for fun stuff, we’d try to work it in, but it was highly unlikely.

And, they got it. They never once asked “how much longer?” or “can we leave now?” They never once grumbled about missing the water park. They stood tall and looked people in the eye and shook hands and whispered “sorry for your loss”. And I learned that I didn’t need to worry about them.

We all learned a lot this week. Not all lessons were positive. We learned for example, that not all employers are compassionate. My sister-in-law had to leave the reception early because she couldn’t be away from work any longer or she’d lose her job. She cried. Her son cried. We cried.

But there were good lessons too. We sat quietly in the funeral home and learned what is meant by somber reflection. We watched the church fill and we learned what is meant by respected community leader. We drove in a long line of cars moving slowly through busy intersections and we learned what is meant by respect. We watched as two naval officers first played “Taps” and then folded an American flag with crisp military precision and slow measured timing and we learned what is meant by honor. We learned that you don’t have to speak to comfort someone, just being present lifts their spirits.

There Was a Time

Posted on June 27, 2012 by pearlsandfire

There was a time in your life that you were totally dependent on me for nourishment and shelter.

There was a time in your life that you stopped crying and burst into a smile the minute I walked into your room.

There was a time in your life that you wanted nothing more than to sit in my lap and read a Sesame Street book.

There was a time in your life when you wanted to marry Cinderella and we were all going to live together in her castle.

There was a time in your life when you needed me to tie your shoes…and then you didn’t.

There was a time in your life where you were the proudest big brother ever and introduced everyone to your baby.

There was a time in your life when your nickname was “Bugs” and I can’t remember why.

There was a time in your life when I willingly took you to see a Pokemon movie.

There was a time in your life when we spent forever culling through the toy store shelves to find a Lego model that you hadn’t yet built.

This is the time in your life, sitting across the kitchen table, still sweaty from football practice wearing a ripped muscle T-shirt and chugging chocolate milk, when I am in awe of the young man you have become.

Joy Is…

Posted on June 12, 2012 by pearlsandfire

Attending a high school graduation party this past weekend and watching two little boys…one 3 and one 2…playing with icy water in a plastic swimming pool filled with bottled water and sodas.

One little boy had a short sleeved button down plaid shirt and shorts. The other little boy had a light blue Tshirt and a navy blue romper. They both had on little brown sandals.

They would sneak over to the wading pool and dip their hands in, scream and giggle and then peak around to see if their parents had caught them. They got braver and braver and at one point they were putting their heads down close to the water and trying to lick the floating ice cubes.

Every parent in that back yard just watched and smiled, mesmerized by these two young boys. And we all shared a moment, remembering when our sons (or daughters) now grown and graduating, once found so much joy in something so simple. And how much joy that gave us.

Ode to Iced Tea

Posted on May 31, 2012 by pearlsandfire

This weekend it was unseasonably hot in Southwest Ohio…upper 80s for Memorial Day weekend. We had one tiny spurt of rain showers on Monday afternoon due to the heat build up but overall it was hot and humid and we were baking in the sun tending to some much neglected yard work. (After moving nearly 10 yards of mulch, the yard looked mulch better!)

And it was the perfect time to dust off the pitcher, fire up the kettle and brew me some iced tea.

Dark and no bubbles

Lemons floating dancing with the melting ice

Pitcher sweating

Quench

Smiling is free — on the wrapper of a Dove chocolate

Posted on May 25, 2012 by pearlsandfire

Who knew that such simple wisdom could be conveyed on a chocolate wrapper? The chocolate made me smile for sure but then so did the expression. I kept it on my desk for the rest of the day. And every time I saw it, I smiled. And I’m smiling now. Of course, the benefit is when someone else sees me smiling. But it is such an easy gift to share.

Pearls and Fire

Posted on May 15, 2012 by pearlsandfire

Why “pearls and fire”? I wear pearls — a lot! I don’t mean I wear a lot of pearls, I mean I wear them frequently. And in the words of my daughters, I am very proper. But I’ve also got spunk, spirit, some may say passion and some may say a temper. Perhaps its the red hair.

In any event, I’m devoting this blog to my observations, realities and foibles navigating life as a professional marketer and mother. Sometimes the going is calm, cool and collected. Smooth and polished like a pearl. And sometimes, things are unpredictable and seemingly uncontrollable, hot and smokey like a wildfire.

–ECK

pearlsandfire

Observations, realities and foibles navigating life

Category Archives: Inspirational