The Weekly Smile 5/11/2020 #weeklysmile

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weeklysmile2a

I had a lot to smile about last week, but also a lot that was, well, different…  I had some plans for today’s smile that fell through (don’t worry, nothing bad happened).  So I will do a little reflection and mention Tuesday.

Reading the news and social media, I have seen the worst side of human behavior come out more than ever.  But I have also seen the best side.  In fact, I have seen the best side come out in so many fantastic ways.

Being the president of our local Lions Club I get to see a lot of what goes on in my community.  Not everything, by any stretch!  But we do provide the umbrella organization for our local food pantry, so I have some insight there.  And then there is a new grassroots organization that has sprung up to help.  They cook meals, give out food, etc.  One of their goals is to help people enough with the donations they get so these people don’t put a strain on the food pantry.

The local Lions have donated gift cards to local take out restaurants to give to some of these families in need.  This goes through that local grassroots organization.  In the last few weeks we have also been donating gas cards to that same organization.  These gas cards are going to caregivers – people who work in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, etc. who live in out town.  It can be anyone from doctors and nurses to janitors and assistants, it doesn’t matter, they all put themselves at risk for us.

On Tuesday that organization (Wilton Cares) did a photo shot with me and Deb, the Lions member who actually picked up the cards (a lot of work, since every card had to be validated).  Here is a photo with the first batch of cards we gave – this was on the Wilton Cares’ FaceBook page.

trent-n-deb

Yes, wearing our masks and begin socially distanced ;)  And, yes, I purposefully wore that shirt to match my mask ;)

My smile this week is about all of the local organizations, many grassroots, that have stepped up in this time of need to help our neighbors, where ever we may be.

What made you smile?

 

39 thoughts on “The Weekly Smile 5/11/2020 #weeklysmile”

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks Y – if you are talking “black Levis”, no, these are just normal Levis. I buy unwashed and let them fade naturally, and these are pretty new, so not very faded yet.

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          I remember that conversation, which is why I though those might be the ones you were talking about. These jeans are a little more faded than they look in the photo, but they are in good enough shape to wear almost anywhere for almost any occasion….

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  7. SHL2

    Trent it is so great to see the good that has been happening but at the same time its so sad to see so much bad. I know our new norm will be nothing like we were use to before. I hope someday in the nearer future we get to experience life the best it can be.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I can’t believe what some people are saying and doing, but I think they are in the minority. It is good to see all of the help people are giving and all of the pluses. I’m not sure what the new normal will be, but I hope the caring side winds out over the selfish side. It would be nice if it can happen soon, but I’m not holding my breath…

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  8. Charlotte Hoather

    Love to hear of your community. Ours is getting to know one another better from the balcony concerts which has made us smile and very happy, people have been so friendly one family gave us some money to get some food, one a bottle of wine, others chocolate and flowers all of these generous touches make us smile. In turn we’ve been boxing up clothes and books and items we no longer use ready to take to the local charity and hospice shops when they can re-open, I’ve been printing items for people homeworking but with no printer and people have booked a couple of piano lessons with George and we’re managing with some telephone sales work, I like to make people smile when I call them otherwise the job wouldn’t be pleasant.

    Do you have furlough schemes if people can’t work?

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I’m sure it is tough with both of you being performers! I’m glad your neighbors appreciate your talents and reach out to help. Very cool that you are doing other things to help give back to society :) I’m glad that you have been able to find some work to do. Hopefully someone will find a way to safely do performances so you can get back to doing what you love.

      There are some programs to help people who have been furloughed or laid off. For some it isn’t enough, which is why having the community pull together is such an important thing. Others are able to do well – I know a few people who are self-employed have have been able to get grants and low interest loans. How is it there? Do you get much help?

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks! A friend made my mask and I am sure Deb made her own (she is a huge arts and crafts person and used to own a sewing shop. The Wilton Cares FB does contain messages from people who they have helped showing their appreciation. It’s great and I’m glad to play my very small role in it all :)

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Every little bit does help. Although a society might come across as as uncaring, I think most individuals do want to work together and are thoughtful and thankful. I used to participate in a mobnthly “compassion” blog event and ended my posts with a paragraph that said in part “We are all in this together, in a closed system, so we must all help each other. How lonely life must be for those selfish people who don’t realize this simple truth!” And, yep, I no longer close my posts with this, but I still believe it :)

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            1. trentpmcd Post author

              I think it died out a few years back, though I did see a post earlier this year by the main page. I will have to search it out and see if they are still active – they are needed now more than ever!

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  11. dawnkinster

    Important that we support those local businesses and restaurants however we can. So far I haven’t used curbside restaurant ordering, I’ve made all our meals but I’m getting to the point that take-out sounds pretty darn good. You remind me that it’s good for them if I order out once in awhile too. Sounds like a plan.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It is important… I think I’ll pizza tonight ;) Actually, I’ve only eaten out a few items, and it was pizza. We wanted breakfast a few weeks ago – there was a glowing “Open sign” on the door and Google had it marked as a place that did take out, but we could never get an answer on the phone, so… I still want breakfast out (or take out), but may need to wait.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Yes, the old west shootout – the mask kind of go that way… We went out front and did the typical pose with the cards,pretty much shoulder to shoulder and the person taking the photo said, “Hey, where’s your social distancing?!” So we laughed and struck that exaggerated pose.

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  14. marina kanavaki

    A ha ha…. matching short! ;-) I’m thankful for my neck tubes collection! Now I can never go out …unmatched!;-)
    On a thought – as your post has to do with smiles – I wonder when we’ll be able to actually see smiles again! ;-)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I do need more masks, but since I just have one… Actually, until i saw the photo, I didn’t realize how good of a job I did matching it, I was just looking for light blue. Typically when I am outside walking, I don’t wear a mask – it is not densely populated around here. When I stop and talk to people, at a good social distance, at least as far away as Deb and I, but usually farther, I do get to see a lot of smiles :)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It was funny, we scooted up close together, as is typical for this type of photo, and the person taking it said, “Hey! Mind your social distancing!” It can get complicated. A lot of places are using plastic shields, which helps. The food pantry is needed, but luckily the Wilton Cares has helped a great deal keeping it from getting swamped.

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