December 31, 2007
Happy New Year’s Eve!
What a full week it has been! A fun Christmas (I have some cute gifts to show you on Wednesday - you might want to put these two artisans on your “future gifts” list), and a fun time in Iowa. We spent a couple of days with WH’s mom in Clinton. (With Iowa being the hot-bed of political focus right now, both Obama and Edwards were in town the day we were there.) On Friday, we mostly stayed inside and watched 8-10 inches of snow fall all day long. Isn’t it beautiful? (Great knitting weather. I have new socks to show you later in the week, too. Finished the Noro sock and am totally in love with it. So much so, that I’m starting the second one tonight. 
And you KNOW that means something. I’m the Queen of the Single Sock.) While we were visiting WH, College Guy set up a laptop for his grandma, and gave her some important lessons. All appears to have gone well with that. (Notice that her office has a RED wall. I liked it a lot!)
On Saturday we traveled across Iowa (in some weird white fog) to attend the wedding of our godson and his beautiful bride. We’ve known this handsome guy since he was just a few days old, and met his wife-to-be this past spring. Aren’t they a happy looking couple? It was a joyful wedding and we are so happy for both of them. This is the son of our good friends Steve and Janice. Want to see more photos? She blogged some fun ones! “Small World Moment” - when I saw a friend from high school scooting into one of the pews for the wedding. Then I realized that she was a teacher at their high school and must’ve had the bride in class. “Smaller World Moment” - when it dawned on me that my high school friend’s last name (her married name) was the same as the bride’s maiden name and realized they must be related. (Yep - she’s an aunt by marriage.) What a small world.
On Sunday, we hung around for brunch and talking. Here is a picture of three of my favorite kids. (Only two are mine, but I’d gladly claim the third. She’s Iowa Girl, sister to the groom.) They’ve all been good friends their whole life. Do you have any friends like that, that you have known your whole life? My oldest friend that I’m still in touch with is actually Steve, father of the groom and father of Iowa Girl. (Also father of Iowa Guy, not pictured.) We met in Junior High. (This was before he and WH met and became such good friends, so I get to claim being Steve’s oldest longest friend.) Other than that, my oldest longest friends go back to high school days.
Today is our last Random Acts of Kindness reporting day. I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed reading all of the kind things that you have done over the past month. This contest really has helped me to keep it on my mind and continually look for ways to make a difference to others. One of my plans for tomorrow is to figure out a plan for each month of 2008 and what I can do to make a difference. Please leave your RAK comments (and your other comments!) below, and I’ll do one more drawing on Wednesday of this week. The winner for last weeks’ drawing is Barbara in LA. Congratulations to you! We’ll plan to get all of the drawing gifts out the end of the week. Thank you all for participating!
Sheri noSneakUpthisweekbutthenexttwoweeksaregonnabedoozies!
Erin in Minnesota said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Woah! No comments yet! Well my Mom has been nagging me about this for over a week now (I forgot last week) so now i can get her off my back. She and I were out shopping the week before Christmas and we noticed an official looking envelope on the ground, it was stamped and addressed to some government office. We thought the person might be in a world of trouble if their envelope was lost, so we scooted across the street to the post office and sent it.
Sheri, sounds like your Christmas was quite fun. Happy New Year!
Janice said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
Whooo, what a party! Thanks so much for coming! More than that, thanks for being our lifelong friends and Godparents to our newly married son!! We love you guys!!!
Chrissy said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Happy New Year! My RAK again involved helping someone save money. We went to one of those Hibachi restaurants for my daughter’s 18th birthday and when the waitress said we could use only one of the two coupons I handed her, I gave the extra coupon to the other family at our table. They had 7 people, so 10% off their tab probably saved them quite a bit.
tracey in mi said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Today is it—- the end of the year- and we’re about to get socked in with loads of snow here in Michigan… I’m off to take my random finished objects to donate them…. I tend to hoard them when they are finished— today- I let them go- (hats, scarves, a sweater or two… some yummy socks that I’ve never worn…..
thnx again for hosting this event- I’m starting one on my blog beginning next Monday- based on the Book “Every Monday Matters”
Lee Cockrum said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Hi,
There are two things that I can think of off hand… one is a small one, someone faxed their work end of week report to my home early saturday am (1:30 am to be exact!) So I faxed on to the CORRECT number that was on the bottom of the form!
The second had to do with a lady that we came upon at a Dunkin Donuts this week. She was trying to make a phone call at the pay phone when we drove up, then came in to borrow the use of a cell phone to call a cab as the pay phone was not working. We asked where she needed to go, and it was right near our next destination, so we offered to take her. We loaded her shopping cart of items into our car, and then delivered her to her requested destination, and then slipped her a $20 when we left. I am uncertain if she was “homeless”, but she definitely had some “friends” inside her head that she talked to under her breath the whole time. But she was very coherent when speaking to us, and seemed clean and otherwise okay,
Sarah said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Happy New Year~~My RAK was letting someone in front of me at the line of the grocery store. She was not too appreciative… but still, It made me feel like I had helped someone out. I so enjoy reading your blog!! Thanks for all of your wonderful posts!
Sarah in San Diego
Loribird said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Happy New Year to you too!
I have to say that I’m so glad you started this RAK thing - it makes me more aware (yarn is a great motivator to remember!) of the little things I can do for other people.
This week I did the little things that I believe are going to become part of my daily life from now on - taking the farther parking spot to give a closer one to someone else, leaving extra change for the next person at the checkout, letting harried-looking mothers ahead of me in line… but the biggie for me this week is something I’m really proud of:
A friend of a friend lost her house in a fire just before the holidays. Her family is safe, but they lost all their possessions. While it’s likely their insurance will cover the essentials, her yarn and roving stash will probably be one of the last things replaced. So my friend put out a call, and I did some serious stash-diving. What would I give if it was my best friend who lost her yarn? Particularly given that this woman is likely much like me, and knitting will be an essential source of comfort in the months to come as they sort their lives out.
I’m sending some of my sock yarn, some of my handspun, things I really love. I had some credit at the LYS, and I used it to buy yarn in her favorite colors. When I told the owner what I was doing, she donated some odd skeins from her back room.
In the big scheme of things, yarn is a luxury. But for many of us, it is also our comfort, our entertainment, our expression of self and creativity. I’m really happy to be able to help give some of that back to someone who needs it.
Donna said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
My husband and I were (crazy for) going shopping on Christmas Eve and stopped to get a bite to eat in the mall’s food court. Which, of course, was packed beyond belief. We were lucky enough to find a small table in the corner of the court, but just as we began eating we noticed a mother with 2 small children trying to juggle kids, food and packages. We noticed she was walking around in circles looking for a place to sit, so I walked up to her and offered her our seats. Although she protested at first I think the 2 hungry kids finally got the best of her!
Lacey said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
This past week I’ve been sending goodies to work with my boyfriend. He works at a big box craft store and they have been burning the midnight oil getting through Christmas and getting up for their yearly inventory. So I’ve been packing him off in the mornings with sweets and other treats to share with his coworkers. We’ve had rave reviews.
I’m just glad to know that they can at least have something happy going on through all the crazy that the store has been the past few weeks. Not a place I’d want to be on Christmas Eve, day after, or New Year’s Eve either!
Melissa F said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Glad to hear you and your family had a great vacation!
OUr random act of kindness for this week was making treats for all of our neighbors and their families. (next door neighbors alone have 10 kids!) So I spent a lot of the week in the kitchen.
I hope this year is fantastic for you and TLE!
Kelsey said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
My RAK this year was staying after my shift at work so one of the other girls could go home and be with her family. No one else could fill in and we’d never met before so she was very suprised. Merry Belated Christmas everyone!!
Valerie said,
December 31, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
It’s great to hear you had an enjoyable week, Sheri. The wedding sounds lik the perfect way to end the year.
I had a hard time doing any RAK’s this week, since my family and I have been inside with the respiratory flu since last Monday and haven’t seen a soul (a bit of a drag over Christmas, but there was lots of knitting time propped up on the couch by the fire, and I finished my Shibui Honey socks for my husband). Instead of an ‘in person’ RAK, I decided to donate the money I wanted to spend on some yarn (which was sold out) to MSF. That way I can do some good for someone without giving them the gift of a virus as well!
Hope you have a fun evening bringing in the New Year and best wishes for the coming months!
Kinelle said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Looking forward to the doozy sneak ups!
Sounds like you had a great Christmas holiday - I’m so glad.
I bought lunch for 4 LYS employees! They had a sale and were overwhelmed with customers. There was no time for anyone to go out and get sandwiches. So, I did and picked up the tab. They protested and wanted to pay me back, but I stood my ground and insisted. Glad I did. I’ve worked retail before and know how hard it is to work non stop for hours facing customers.
Suellen said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
My sister has been out of work for a while, and is struggling to find the right job that will use her talents. Unfortunately, her financial situation has gotten pretty grim. Her boyfriend (a great man!!) is helping her, but she will only let him do so much. On Christmas day I could see the stress of waiting and worrying on her face. I knew her finances were a mess, but she’s very proud about taking help.
I, on the other hand, received a Christmas bonus at work and am feeling very blessed. So, the next day I typed a letter on my computer (to protect my identity) and send her $100. I told her that some day, when she is ok, to pass it forward to someone else.
Two days later I received an email from her saying she had been on a job interview that morning and felt confident about it. She went on to say that, in her mailbox, she had received $100. Her statement was, “I’ve been crying ever since, to think that someone out that cares that much about me. This will enable me to meet my full mortgage payment. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
That made me cry - to know I had touched my sister so profoundly. Something that was so easy for me had lifted a heavy worry, at least temporarily, from her shoulders.
I vow to continue to help others ,more in the coming year. Thanks, Sheri, for inspiring me!
Laurie said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Well I have put myself on a bit of a yarn diet for January so knowing that we were still in Dec…(can you see where this is going?)…. I had to do some last minute shopping. I went to visit a friend at the LYS where she was working. I had 2 discount coupons that expire Dec 31st. So of course I had to use them. I used one and left the other with my friend to have her share it with some one who could use it. This is what she wrote to me last night:
So just after you left, an older woman came in who was buying a bunch of yarn (mostly from the sale bin.) She was counting her cash and asked me to total her purchase a couple of different ways. I asked Beverly (the owner) if she minded my donating your coupon, and she said it would be fine.
Anyhow, the lady was BEAMING when I told her that you’d given her that coupon. She looked up & crossed herself & then told me that she had just enough $$$ with the $12 you saved her. She was so pleased, and she asked me to please thank you for being so generous.
How cool was that!!! I was happy to help out. It is just good juju, carma, or whatever you call it.
Danielle from SW Missouri said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
I havent had an opportunity to do much in the way of RAKs this week, however my family and I were the recipients of a very generous RAK from the Church his mom attends and Hubby grew up in. They pick a family every Year at Christmas time to donate, Money Clothing or Food to since we receive food stamps and dont need clothing they donated the $300 in cash to us to help pay our bills or anything else we choose to use it for. Hope everybody has a Happy New Year.
Carrie said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
My RAK for this week happened at the mall (once again). While shopping in a corner of a store a woman squeezed past me and as she did so something fell out of her purse. I thought it was just a wrapper or receipt so I just ignored it. A few minutes later I bent down to tie my shoe and saw a $50 bill laying under a table. Thinking that it must have been the woman’s, I snatched it up and started searching the store for her. I couldn’t find her, so ventured out into the mall. Eventually, I found her and gave her the money back. She couldn’t believe that I walked all over the mall looking for her when I could have easily kept the money for myself. Also, every year, I buy one of the largest turkeys I can find and donate it to the local food pantry. Its only about $20 and will make one family very happy during the holidays!
Kristi said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
What a wonderful time you have had! I am still trying to recover from the holidays and head into the New Year with lots of thoughts on accomplishing SOMETHING–hopefully my WIPs!
My RAK this week was helping to watch a friends baby while she went to a massage. She needed it!
Happy New Year!
melissaknits said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
Old friends…my oldest friend is probably my friend Kristie who I met when I was 19 and she was 16. We were just discussing this the other day, trying to figure out who I’ve known the longest. We moved a lot when I was a kid, and I went to a lot of different schools.
But, my friend Katy has a friend she’s known since first grade! FIRST GRADE!!
Marti Johnson said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
Its hard to match all the wonderful RAKs that are already submitted. Its wonderful to know that people can truly be so generous when you least expect it. My RAKs are more an everyday type of RAK. I live in Sacramento, the capital of California, and like most fairly large cities, we have more than our share of heavy traffic, not only from the people just heading to work, home, or shopping, but also those traveling through the city to reach the mountain snows, or to the Bay Area. And like many places today, there is more than a large share of angry drivers and road rage. Whenever I go driving, even if I’m late, I try to remember that no matter what, nothing is worth getting myself killed by being pushy in traffic, or keeping others from their destination. Instead, I let the person coming out of a parking lot, or anxious to change lanes do so. Maybe they aren’t the road rage type, but if it keeps even one person a little calmer in traffic, and helps keep the roads a bit safer, its worth it to me. Life is too short to lose it in a traffic-related death.
Laurie said,
December 31, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Happy New Year Sheri! It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas week - What fun to spend it with family and friends! No special RAK’s to report this week, but I have continued to be aware of others around me and think of what I can do to be kind and put a smile on their face - holding doors, letting people go before me in line., etc. Thanks so much for this holiday challenge…I plan to continue it through the new year and beyond!
Looking forward to those doozie sneak-ups!
Lori said,
December 31, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Happy New Year!
My RAK is happening today. Saturday night I could see the kitchen staff was just exhausted and knowing that New Year’s Eve will be crazy for all of us, I decided to give the kitchen guys a break from cooking staff dinner tonight. I’m making chicken enchiladas for the entire staff tonight so they don’t have to worry about us. I know it’s hard to find the wherewithall to cook dinner for the staff after a major night like tonight. You should have seen Chef’s face when I offered to cook! It was reward enough!
Amy said,
December 31, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
Happy New Year!! While I was in Kansas visiting my family, I volunteered to take my mom’s dog, Sammy, on daily walks. Although I think she does enjoy walking him, she appreciated me volunteering to take over that duty for a while. I’m not sure how random it is because I’ve been looking forward to it for weeks since I am a petless person and have to live vicariously through others with pets… She said I spoiled him by giving him more walks than his usual routine each day. And, this could easily be spread around via RAK for those who might not be able to walk their dogs for whatever reason: weather, illness, etc. : )
Angie said,
December 31, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Happy New Year!! Looks like you had a fab time in Iowa!
I don’t have any RAKs last week. I just had a great holiday week spending time with family and friends. I cooked (love entertaining) and cleaned (OK, hate the cleaning part) and opened my home for anyone that wished to drop by. Of course, I had to go and get that dreaded common cold but I kept going anyway. I’m on vacation this week so I plan to spend time with my stepkids, finally get back to knitting a pair of socks for me, and enjoy a nice, quiet week after the holidays.
Leslie said,
December 31, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Happy New Year to you and yours Sheri! Thanks for making this year knitting wise so fabulous for me and the people I knit for.
Speaking of a small world, my daughter in laws family lives in Clinton. Sheesh! Such a small rural town, too. If it was a bigger city, it would have surprised me less. Just thought I’d mention that small world thing. lol…thanks again!
Helen said,
December 31, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
I was at the candy department of a department store when I noticed that the woman in front me was short of cash for her purchase. It wasn’t even $2.00 but I said here let me take care of it for you. She was surprised and grateful. I just said your welcome and help someone else out if they are ever in a pinch.
Thanks so much for doing this Sheri! Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours.
I resolve to continue doing RAK in 2008 and beyond.
Mary said,
December 31, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
On Christmas Eve, I was at the supermarket with hundreds of other people. When I got to the checkout lanes, there was a young Mom with 2 small children in front of me. She was admonishing the children not to ask for any candy or anything else because she wasn’t going to buy them anything. I noticed that as her groceries were being rung up, she was taking things and putting them on the back of the belt. She looked nervous as the order total was going up and up. Finally, she told the clerk not to ring up the remaining items because she didn’t have the money for them. The cashier looked at her strangely and the Mom repeated that she only had $65, that was it for the rest of the month, and she couldn’t take the rest of the groceries. “Excuse me,” I said, and I leaned across her to the credit card scanner, swiped my card, and told the Mom that under no uncertain terms would I hear any protest. I told the cashier to ring up the rest of the groceries and bag them. The Mom hugged me, I signed the receipt, and wished the family a happy Christmas. I know I made that family happy, but they’ll never know how happy it made me!
Michelle said,
December 31, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
My RAK was while we were waiting 2 hrs for a table a Carmine’s NYC last week. Some nice young college guys were waiting at the bar along side of us…. it was a looooong wait and the bar was packed… drinks $11 a pop… pretty pricey… anyhooo we ordered a huge whoppin’ plate of zucchini fries and gave it to them to munch. They were nice guys, fun to talk to and we figured they weren’t going to be eating too much
Kirsty said,
December 31, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Have a super new year Sheri! I look forward to many purchases in 2008! LOL
Cathy said,
December 31, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Happy New Year!
I’ve been in the house pretty much since 12-19-07, last day of school…
I plan on keeping up w/ RAK for 2008..
be safe everyone!
Monica said,
December 31, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Sounds like you had a wonderful time visiting over the Holidays. I will have to go check out the pictures on Janice’s blog. Funny, I just always assumed you and Janice were the longtime friends, well it sounds like you are, but I didn’t ever give it a thought that the friendship sprouted from a friendship with her WH. I think that is so neat.
My RAK: I have started taking in shopping carts when I go into the grocery. Esp now that it is a little chilly out I feel sorry for those teenagers out there pushing all those carts. I don’t have the best control over those things so I don’t take as many as they do, but I gather them up on my way into the store.
And this morning I was the recipient of a RAK. When we got up this morning there was a bag of Dove Dark chocolates on the porch from out very sweet neighbors. How did they know I NEEDED some chocolate today????
Jocelyn said,
December 31, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
It sounds like you’ve had a lovely holiday, full of friends and family, which is exactly how it should be! Our big RAK for the week was when my daughters and I went to a local bead store to make some bracelets and stitch markers for friends who knit and their kids. They’re going out to the post office today
Thanks for inspiring us to be a bit more conscious of kindness!
Sarah in Ohio said,
December 31, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Welcome back! Glad you had such a wonderful trip! Happy New Year!
Let’s see… oldest friend… that would be my best friend, we met in 5th grade… quick math…17 years ago.
RAK, last week I saw on f my neighbors trashcans starting to roll into the street so I retrieved it but instead of just putting it back on the curb I brought both trashcans up their drive and put them next to their garage door.
Julianne Bredestege said,
December 31, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
Happy New Years everyone at the Loopy Ewe!!!
I have been checking regularly for the big Sneak Up- lest I miss it!!! My RAK is I am donating my time this week to help a good friend fuel her business. She has been a jewelry designer for over 18 years now,( had stuff on all the “Friends” cast, ER, and now Nip/Tuck too!) She finally is in a NY showroom. In Aug. and this week, I volunteered to fly out with her, work the booth with her at the big trade show, and help her promote her designs, for free (she can’t reimburse me for the trip) just because I know she needs the support and a friend to be there, she just barely broke even last time, I hope this trade show goes even better! She actually had an earring design bought by Anthropologie (one of my faves). She is also not aware that I am furiously knitting her an Ice Queen and a pair of Fetchings for the trip, ’cause coming from San Diego, I am betting she is NOT ready for NY weather. And she never buys herself anything because she is also trying to launch a nonprofit to Save Darfur. I wish I could do as much as she is, but maybe I can be the ‘woman behind the woman’ so to speak!
I also have been letting people know when I am leaving a parking lot so they can follow me to my car and not keep circling forever, I hate that…
Also, my son bless his heart, didn’t pass his driving test on Christmas Eve, so I have been letting him drive places more, and I go with him to take the car home, instead of making him take the bus everywhere, I feel so badly, he was so excited to get his license:( Next month maybe…I think the testing guy was in a bad mood b/c he had to work Xmas, maybe I should have brought cookies…hmmmm…. does that count as a bribe???
See you all in the New Year!! Sincerely, Juliblue
liz said,
December 31, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
My RAK was to let someone in front of me at the store not once, but twice (different people). They each had one or two things and I had a mountain, so it seemed sort of silly to make them wait on me.
Barb said,
December 31, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Yesterday I searved food at the local soup kitchen. It is so nice to volunteer like that. We do it a couple of times a month. I love doing it. I also brought a bag of food to the pantry that is also there. Every little bit counts.
Happy and healthy new year to everyone:-)
Nancy said,
December 31, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Nothing special this wek, let folks out in traffic, others with only a few grocery items in first. The hardest for me was giving up a whole day, including dinner after, with friends at my most favorite needlework shoppe to have my husband’s sister and family in for dinner. I really worked hard at this because they are not my favorite folks and I always feel guilty that I don’t like them much. And then, ugh, half of them didn’t even come! I know it is mean spirited, but next year I will think twice. I think that my meanness counteracts the thought, don’t you?
Marissa J. said,
December 31, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Happy New Year to everyone. My RAK made me feel like a million bucks. My mom works with special education students, she has been out all year due to her cancer/treatments and such, but she makes a point to keep up with her kids. One sweet girl and her siblings got NOTHING for Christmas. Their mom told them that they had to wait for taxes before they could get anything. While this is not uncommon ’round these parts, it still seemed wrong for kids not to have ANYTHING for the holiday. I have not even told my mom yet, but my sister and I took those five kids some money to do with as they wish for the new year. They were super excited and their mom cried and said she felt bad that she couldn’t even get them Christmas cards. She was more overjoyed than the kids I think.
It was an awesome RAK all around!
Looking forward to the doozie sneakUps,
Marissa
Kathryn in Minnesota said,
December 31, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
For my last RAK report (though these RAs will continue), I am pleased to announce that, in addition to the grounds of the local elementary school, more than three miles of trails in the local arboretum have been cleared by hand (well, plastic-covered hand) of all domestic poop. I won’t tell you how many plastic bags I used, but I will say that the arb has been visited by dogs of many different sizes. ‘Nuf said. ; ) In the process of clearing poop, I spotted a deer and an owl! Their poop got to stay in the arb. : )
Happy New Year!
Joanne Edwards said,
December 31, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!! I have had the sinus infection to top all others…was not able to do much of anything this week. I did not finish my give away mittens so I will have to give them away when I finally finish them, but I did give whole heartedly some of my “REALLY GOOD STUFF” yarn to a friend who needed something special and knew I would have it, and I did and in the clogged state that I was in, and being generous…I gave it to her as my gift…so that has to be an RAK! Yipes, normally I would not even show THAT stash to anyone! Then I made my hubby go down to the Salvation Army ringer and donate $. But I do plan to watch and do RAK’s all through the year. Thanks again Sheri for the great thoughts. I gotta blow my nose. Take care and Blessings for 2008!…Love, Jo
Bev said,
December 31, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
A couple years ago I took a two year workshop with Caroline Myss called Sacred Contracts. (Can’t recommend this enough!) In one of the sessions she talked about a new book she was writing called Invisible Acts of Power. Before she wrote the book, she solicited letters from people regarding acts of kindness they had received or given. One such story she told us had such a profound impact on me, that it changed the way I interact with strangers. She received a letter from a young man who at one time was so despondent that he had made the decision to commit suicide. As he was walking down the street contemplating the best method to attain his goal, he stopped at a crosswalk to wait for a car to pass. As he waited, the driver paused, looked him in the eye and smiled while waving him across. That one single smile changed his life. To him, being acknowledged with that smile from a complete stranger was a gift of grace. He no longer wanted to kill himself. After hearing that story, I started being more conscious how I interacted with people on the street, in line, or just entering a building. Now, I often pause to hold a door, let someone with fewer items go ahead of me in line, or just smile a greeting as I pass people on the street. You never know when or how a brief, courteous acknowledgment will change a person’s day.
Allen said,
December 31, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
My RAK wasn’t something that I was looking for - sort of just walked into it. I was at the local county courthouse filing the necessary paperwork to officially own my business name, and whenever you have to do a government thing like this is always takes longer and is more difficult than you expect it to be - so I was there for a while and had to go to several different places to make sure that all the t’s were crossed… the last stop for me was the sheriff’s office to have some of the paperwork notarized. When I went into the office there was the nicest couple - wife near tears, husband obviously frustrated - and one of the women from the sheriff’s office who had another young girl trying to speak to them in Spanish. I speak Spanish okay and understand it even better, so when the husband looked up, I just asked him if I could help. The look on his face was priceless - so happy to see someone who could understand. He told me his whole story (it was complicated - that’s why he didn’t have the English for it); I translated it for the sheriff, and got him on his way - left my cell phone if he got “lost ” in the system again. I didn’t hear from them again, so the story must have a happy ending. That must have been the reason my business there took so long - so that I would arrive at that moment for that couple.
Happy New Year, Sheri and crew and all my fellow Loopies! Here’s to knitting the New Year in!
Judi said,
December 31, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Earlier this year I was in a multiple RAK that pleased me way out of proportion to the activity itself. Near us is a grocery store that keeps their carts chained up. You put in a quarter and when you repark the cart you get the quarter back. Normally people coming into the store will have a quarter ready and give it to someone that is about to put their cart away.
On this particular day, I approached the store with quarter in hand. I held it out to a man that was finished with his cart. He waved me off and said “Have a great day”. When I came out of the store, someone approached me with a quarter and “gave” him the cart without taking the quarter, explaining that I had gotten it the same way. He rewarded me with a big grin.
Just think, NO money was at stake. No inconvenience was involved. But there were at least three people in town that day with silly smiles on their faces. What a world!!
It makes me think that if such tiny gestures can give so much pleasure, why aren’t we all doing it all the time?
phoebe said,
December 31, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
Happy and healthy New Year! Glad that you had a wonderful time in Iowa, despite all the crazy political goings on. I also really liked reading how everyone embraced RAKs this month. My last one for ‘07 (plan to continue the tradition in ‘08) is that I had a number of one-day passes for Busch Gardens that were going to expire today. So when we went on Saturday, I gave them out to some of the people in line behind us. You never saw so many shocked and excited faces.
Marsha in Colorado said,
December 31, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
For my RAK, I took lasagne over to a house bound friend and cleaned her sidewalk of snow.
I hope all of you and your families have a safe and happy new year! 2008 will be full of socks and yarns for me, and I wish the same for all TLE group and fans!
LaLa said,
December 31, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Have a great New Year! I helped out a lady at my LYS kitchner the toes of her first socks today. She was so excited to finally get it and have completed socks, that she wore them out of the store.
Janet said,
December 31, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
Happy New Year,
I let two guys in front of me at the quick check out line. The first guy was very happy the second stayed behind me, seemed silly to force him in front.
Marianne Y said,
December 31, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
I want to tell you about what my youngest son did for RAKs this weekend. Friday night, he was exhausted after playing the first game in our regional junior curling tournament. He came home to many chores, mostly thanks to a major snowstorm that dumped during his game. First, he had to feed and walk the dogs of our neighbors down the street, who did not make it home as planned because of the storm. Then, he snow blowed the driveways and sidewalks of an elderly neighbor down the street, he did the sidewalks from her house, plus the outer sidewalks of the 6 neighbors in between that elderly neighbor, to get back down to the one with the dogs, whose people were still out of town. Then, he had to do the driveway of another elderly neighbor next door to us who could not make it home from Iowa because of canceled flights from Chicago. So, my 16-year old son ended up having to do the driveways and sidewalks of 3 neighbors, plus our own, plus take care of the neighbor’s dogs, because of the big storm. That, and he had two curling games on Saturday (the next day), and another one early yesterday. He was one exhausted kiddo after all of that. Fortunately, he got some rest today, because we have another snow storm coming in tonight, New Year’s Eve. That’s not bad for a teenager who is on an all-to-short Christmas break (he has to go back to school Wed), with a ton of homework to get done before Wednesday, too. He is a good kid!
Beth said,
December 31, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
I bought several extra items at the grocery store and left them on the porch of a family that I know is struggling to make ends meet. Also, it’s not very random, but I asked my family to donate to my favorite charity (Lifeline of Hope) instead of buying me gifts.
My oldest friend is my husband - we met in Sunday school in Kindergarten.
Happy New Year!
Debbie O. said,
December 31, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Happy New Year!
My 13-year old nephew performed a simple RAK for me on Christmas Day. He went and scraped all the snow and ice off my car when we were ready to leave the celebration without being asked. Of course, I repaid the favor by hopefully buying enough fundraising raffle tickets from him at the last minute for him to win the XBOX prize for most sales!
Anne said,
December 31, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Thanks so much for this whole RAK thing, Sheri. I really want to find a way to keep it going in 08. My last RAK of the year was donating to the veterinary expense fund for the dog in this news story:
http://www.wgme.com/News/story_detail/story_detail_13.shtml
in memory of our beloved Fenway, who has now been gone for 13 months, and who I still miss every day. I found out about it on Rabbitch’s blog — she has a link to the vet’s page.
I do have a couple of friends I’ve known since I was 4 — I’ve taught both daughters of one, and the other is still one of my most important female friends. One of m colleagues says that long term friendships are the least-examined of all friendships & in a way that’s true, but I also feel very comfortable being around people who have known me for so long. There’s so much shared experience/memory.
Happy New Year!
Katrina said,
December 31, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
Happy New Year! I agreed to do some knitting for a friend’s wedding-ballerina slippers for the flower girl. And I just finished 4 pairs of them for Christmas presents! I have the pattern memorized!
Bonnie Herrmann said,
December 31, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
I have an RAK to report from last week. I was away from a computer Christmas Eve and could not report at that time.
I received a beautiful bouquet of a dozen yellow roses at work on Dec. 20th. I took them home on Friday the 21st, but we were leaving town on the 22nd and would not be home until the night of the 25th or the 26th. We ended up delivering them to the home of a friend so that he could take them to his mother who was recently under-the-weather. The blooms were still very beautiful and had not opened much at all.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Anniebananie said,
December 31, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
Happy New Year to you and the Loopy Elves! I have been knitting mittens - I had never knit them before, and realize that kids mittens are so quick and easy! I have decided that mittens are going to be my charity knitting for this year. It’s a perfect way to use up those odds and ends lying around the house!
Oh - I was able to sneak in a RAK late last week. I stopped at Starbucks drivethrough for a Peppermint White chocolate mocha (mmmmm….) and was able to pay for the person behind me - he got a cup o’ joe and a muffin. It felt really good to do something like that.
My best friend and I have been BFs since we were 12 - we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary in a year or so. We have been through middle school, high school, college, marriage, children (hers), divorce (hers), remarriage (hers), children (mine), deaths of our grandparents, etc… together. We talk about 4 times a week. She is my lifeline, and the only person in this entire world who I know will always tell me the truth, even when I don’t want to hear it.
Phyllis said,
December 31, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
Happy New Year to All!
RAK - An old computer friend lost his battle with cancer earlier this year, and I’ve tried to help his wife with computerish things whenever possible. She makes gorgeous jewelry, but is not a techie. On Thursday I took her shopping for a new fax/printer/copier. She just had shoulder surgery, so is not allowed to lift anything. While picking out the new fax, she also found a new desk chair. (I love my hatchback. I can get a lot of things in that car!) Anyway, I carried both into the house for her, carried the fax upstairs to the office, set it up for her and boxed up the old one that would be going to a friend of hers. Yesterday, the fellow who inherited the old fax assembled the chair for her. She gets upset with me because I never let her pay me for helping out, but I keep telling her that I’m just paying it forward. She’s good for my karma.
Bobbi said,
January 1, 2008 @ 12:20 am
On Friday we had a huge snowstorm. Our office closed early and since I was the first one out to the parking lot, I cleaned off all of the windshields.
Heather said,
January 1, 2008 @ 12:57 am
I’ve gotten into the habit of cleaning windsheilds on random cars near mine when it’s snowy. It doesn’t take long, and I’m sure it’s making someone’s day.
Happy New Year! Can’t wait to see your Noro socks, Sheri!
Sock Knitter said,
January 1, 2008 @ 5:40 am
“noSneakUpthisweekbutthenexttwoweeksaregonnabedoozies!”
Oh, man! Another WEEK to wait
Bummer!
Katie said,
January 1, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Happy New Year to all the Loopies! I’m starting to shake from the lack of sneak ups.
Nicole said,
January 1, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
Just a small RAK: I pulled the smallest neighbour kids up the hill on their toboggan for a while a couple of days ago. I think they were feeling left out when the older kids were climbing the hill faster and sliding so many more times.
Jean said,
January 1, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
Happy New Year to everyone! I am the high school friend who turned out to be the aunt of the bride.
I couldn’t place her face - taught too many years and thought she was a former student’s mom - TSK! Brave soul Sheri approached me at the reception and then it hit me - my old lockermate from high school - SHERI! I was stunned. After fully making the connection for me, Sheri and I had a great chat, and I met her very handsome crew. Our one mistake was neither of us thought to photograph the reunion - TSK2!
Since I, too, am an avid knitter, I shall be checking in. Unfortunately as a composition teacher, I have little free time, but I’ll do my best:)
Joannah said,
January 1, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
This past week has left me scraping the bottom of the RAK-barrel. I had some medical stuff scheduled that ate up my time between Christmas and New Year’s. I have tried to be nice to anyone I’ve interacted with, being patient, asking about their holidays in more than the prefunctory way, giving them a smile and a ‘thanks’ that let them know I appreciated their help. These gestures do not feel like RAKs, but this week with everything else I’ve been doing/dealing with, I’m aware of how very important it is that we treat each other like people whenever and how ever we have the chance.
Thanks Sheri, for this month long reminder that we can be, and often are, kind to each other in big and small ways.
Happy New Year to you, your family, the elves! May 2008 be full of all kinds of RAKs, by you and to you.
Jill said,
January 1, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
I saw on Ravelry a comment by a knitter that she was out of yarn and had no money to purchase more. I packed a box full (including sock yarn) and sent it to her.
Kathryn in Minnesota said,
January 1, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
I have so loved reading everyone else’s RAK reports. They’ve given me so many great ideas for the new year!
In the spirit of the old, we cleared the educational wildlife preserve across the street of canine poop today. Our own dogs were pretty grateful for the “field trip.”
Karen said,
January 1, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
I may be too late, but I’m late in blog reading too. ; )
A week or so ago I passed this guy as I was getting off the interstate - they are often there, with signs noting they need money, and I usually try to look past them, thinking they should go to the homeless shelter, wondering what they will do with the money if I give it to them, but on this particular day I opened my window and gave him a $10 and didn’t give it another thought and haven’t told anyone I know.
Karen said,
January 1, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
I’m probably late, but it’s been crazy around here.
My RAKs for the week (actually last week)- I offered to everyone to stay late Christmas Eve as it’s not my holiday so that everyone could go home to be with their families - no one tok me up on it, but the thought was definately there. Also, my girlfriend just lost her mom over the summer, so I took her to dinner also on Christmas Eve so that she ddn’t have to be alone (she has no family here and couldn’t get home).
I hope that everyone has a very happy new year and that 2008 sees some dreams come true
Pat said,
January 1, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
My RAK this week was, I read Wendy’s blog about the dog that got hit by the snowmobile, so I went over and contributed some money for its care.
KT said,
January 1, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
RAK of the week was dropping all my knitting plans for break and knitting my uncle a scarf out of Malabrigo. I’m not done with it by any means, but he’s coming the 5th and I need to give it to him then. He’s been wearing the crappy, ugly camo acrylic scarf I knit for him four years ago!!! As far as I’m concerned, that calls for my first ever Malabrigo experience.
I hope your year is charmed.
Keri said,
January 1, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Probably too late to post as an “offical” RAK, but what the heck =) My parents had the two missionaries that serve in their ward over for dinner on Sunday. My mother is an active church-goer and I … am not. However, not only did I hobble downstairs (fully dressed - I had stubbed my toe really bad earlier that day - so bad it still hurts now) and participate in dinner, but when the two young ladies were admiring a bag I’d made for a friend, I offered to make them bags as well. I let them shop from my fabric stash (all quilt-shop quality fabric - I have enough even for the quilts I won’t make til after I’m dead), and I spent all day today working on the bags. Considering that their “message” for us that night was to be charitable to others (and they even congratulated me on preempting the message), I felt pretty darn good about it. I can’t wait to see how they like the bags =)
The pattern is the Lazy Girl Newport Tote bag, in case anyone else here sews or quilts. A picture can be found at http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/images/products/large/LGD115.jpg. It’s super easy to make (one bag takes me about 3 hrs, including the quilting time), and I’ve made over a dozen so far. Everyone who has gotten them loves them - and they make great knitting bags!
Hillis said,
January 2, 2008 @ 9:44 am
We got alot of snow so I helped the neighbors shovel out their sidewalks so they could go to church….
Amy said,
January 2, 2008 @ 10:01 am
I was witness to a RAK… and got one too.
Both at Sam Club…
1. I was in a long line to get my member number because I somehow forgot it at home. An employee, in line for his own reasons, asked what everyone was in line for and was able to get them to help me quick as it was an “easy” thing to do.
2. A man in line at the photo counter waited nicely and then when he got his turn, just said “I found these photos in the parking lot outside” Wow, to wait in line so that someone else can have their pictures!!!
Janelle said,
January 2, 2008 @ 11:23 am
I’ve really been enjoying all the different ideas people are coming up with for RAK’s.
This is not my personal RAK, but a very nice gesture all the same. Every year around Christmas ( this is usually when he has time off) he will sharpen all the kitchen knives, check the handles on pans and cabinet doors to see if everything is tight. Usually my family doesn’t even know he does this unless you catch him in the act. While visiting he will also do this for me and my sibling, and grandparents. It’s amazing what a sharp knife can do! All of those things are time consuming to fix, but things you never think about until you’re using them or they are broken.
Janelle said,
January 2, 2008 @ 11:27 am
My mother every year sends a small package to her surving aunts/uncles. As they all live across the country she has rarely seen them since she was a child. She wants them to have something to open on Christmas and always gives them a call sometime during the day. A small gesture that has continued to brighten their days…especially as they have moved into nursing homes and long-term care hospitals.
Sheri- Thanks so much for having this contest and reminding all of us of all the little things we do that can help brighten our lives and those around us!
Kathy said,
January 2, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Do not know if it is too late but I will give it a shot. I am from St. Louis but now live in NE Indiana. My husband and I went home for the holiday to visit the sister, brother and remaining parental unit. While there my husband did more than I but we did Dad things. I, of course, wanted to help Dad but more to help my sister and brother who both work and cannot get to some of the things my Dad should not do but still thinks he can do, even at 80 he has not realized that he is not capable. We bought and installed a new TV. Took two old black and white out to the dumpster. Removed old TV to another location and hooked them all up to cable. Replaced his old broken computer with new one. Replaced functioning printer with free one that we got for having bought computer and put the old printer closer to where he spends all his time so he can still use the copying features. While getting the computer hooked up properly, cleaned off some of his ‘good stuff’ (he has hoarders disease) and hooked up a telephone. I think just doing these small things for him took a tremendous load off. Anyone who knows about or has anything to do with hoarders disease knows that they are very fond of their stuff. So for him to allow me to get rid of several old TV’s is really very good of him. I admit he did go lay down while this was going on, but at least he let us do these things for him. He might have been kicking and screaming but these things are now done and not partial projects that he thinks he will get to at a later date. We did several other things but it still felt good to do these things. When you travel hundreds of miles to visit and there is not even a place to sit, doing this sort of stuff really makes you feel like you are helping him. Every time I visit all I want to do is clean, pitch and sort, but I know this cannot happen so having projects that he really wanted done actually made for a good holiday visit.
christine schnabel said,
January 2, 2008 @ 11:56 am
I am soooooooooooooooooooooo jealous of the snow. I LOVE snow but living in the good ole South we do not see much of that and when we do people panic and act like the world is coming to an end. :0) We did however get some well needed rain this past week wchich is good cause some cities only had like 60 days of water left. So some cities are hurting for water really bad.
Susan L said,
January 2, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Forgot to post this the other day! My RAK thsi past week was small, actually a few small, similar RAKs, consisting of letting people with fewer items go ahead of me in line at the supermarket & CVS, and letting more than “my fair share” of drivers get in front of me when a 3-lane road (each direction, not counting 2 left-turn lanes & 2 right-turn lanes) was down to 1 lane, & of course everyone waits til the last second to merge into the functioning lane. (Plus some drivers went ahead in a turn lane when they really wanted to go straight, so I had them coming from both sides!)
Sheri, thanks so much for encouraging us to be more aware of others’ needs & to help make “common courtesy” more common. (It seems to be rubbing off on my daughter, too!)
Your holidays & trip to Iowa sound wonderful! Hope you’re well-rested, re-energized, & rejuvenated. Happy New Year to you & your family & the Loopy Elves!
Elizabeth said,
January 2, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
I read on my spindlers group that one of the members had a house fire and lost many of her material possessions including all of her yarn stash and books. I sent her a large box of fiber to spin, a spindle, a full bag of rowan yarn and some stray balls of alpaca boucle.
Kathryn in Minnesota said,
January 2, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
And (drumroll please) for the final poop removal count, representing two states (Minnesota and California), two nature preserves, one park, the elementary school across the street, and countless dogs (well, no more than 148, but potentially fewer):
148 piles o’ unclaimed canine leftovers
That’s a *&@%load of poop! I’m feeling even more virtuous than I thought I would. Thanks for the challenge!
shadkitty said,
January 2, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Wow. Yes, my very best friend has been my friend for nearly 20 years now. Since preschool! She’s actually coming to visit this weekend.
RAKs - I tailored a shirt for a friend…apparently Small just wasn’t small enough.
I helped a friend who was babysitting, and showed her the wonders of the Chik-fil-a playplace!
And, I have an RAK someone did for me. Two, actually, they happened almost at the same time though. As a matter of fact, at that Chik-fil-a. My middle son managed to get himself stuck in between a slide and the wall of the playplace!! Poor guy was wedged right in. One of the dads helped me to free him, he pulled from above, and I pushed from below. Right after that (while I was feeling embarrassed and silly), a lovely couple told me that they thought I was doing an excellent job with my kids! Which made me feel all sorts of wonderful, being a young mother, I usually feel one or two steps behind everyone else.
Jessica said,
January 2, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
Can’t believe its 2008! While I will not be going to the spring fling, I do get to spend the money on a new spinning wheel - yay!
My RAK - if it could be called a RAK - I acquired an alpaca fleece on christmas day - I chose one that did not have the grass picked out or cleaned, and saved the wonderful lady several hours doing the same thing - I could have picked up a “cleaned” fleece. Now I’m halfway through (ok, maybe a third) cleaning and washing the fleece - have carded about a pound, and am ready to do some spinning!
I also allowed my parents to stay an extra couple of days so they could drive in good weather back to TX - I was ready for them to leave about 3 days before they actually left, so the fact that everyone and everything is still intact is pretty good. (wasn’t really THAT bad)
My best friend is my hubby! we are both very introverted
Have a great 2008!
TMTTYRR said,
January 2, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! **dancing around, throwing confetti**
I honestly can not think of a single RAK I did last week. I’m sure there was something.
I did take care of a friend of mine’s cat while she was out of town at her son’s house over the holiday. I’m also looking after the cat this week, as my friend has just had surgery to remove a cancerous spot from her kidney. But that was planned, not random.
Still…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! **throwing more confetti** Here’s to a continuation of RAKs for 2008, even without contests!
(Not to mention plenty of knitting time!)