Give a little bit!

This morning as I climbed on the bus and I swiped my bus pass bidding a good day to the driver - the Indigo Girls song: Galileo began to play. My morning ritual is so intact that I could do it in my sleep and I often do - for those of you that know me well, you know that mornings aren't a peak time for me. But this particular morning was different in several ways, so when this particular iTune began to play I knew that the day would be a good one.


My Aunt Judy always comes to mind when I hear this song, she is among a group of people in my life that I owe a great deal. Our life's paths have crossed so many times at just the right juncture. It is funny how that happens. Times when you know you need something or someone and you just can't pin point what or who that may be. Each time I learned that that person was Judy a grin would appear on my face and the thought: "this should be fun," would pop into my mind.

With an innate ability to come to a higher understanding she tackles life's ups and downs with grace and always humor. And over the years she has opened my mind to so many ideas and so many things that seemed off the beaten path that shouldn't have been. I love her for that but not that alone. I think in time we learn that there are times in our lives when we need a co-pilot, so to speak, a sort of guardian to our own life. Times when our mind becomes clouded with the dreariness of problems and insecurities. Thankfully she was the guardian to mine during one of those short lived dark periods. In a time that I felt very needy and helpless at the same time, I struggled to dignify my place in the world and understand what it was that I had to offer, she gave me these wise words. "Sometimes all you have to give is your time." How true.

We all live through those periods and we certainly need those people that conveniently pop up to lend a hand. Sifting through boxes of her life's travels and treasures we came to a greater understanding of one another. With alarm clock radios turning on and off in the back ground and the occasional outburst of laughter we both worked diligently through separate hard times. Not knowing which direction the wind would blow us next, we patiently waited for that breeze to rise and when it did we smiled again. But this time a wider smile.

Words about time coming from a lady who has given her time to loved ones, friends, and all those who come into her company for a lifetime: time. The same person who told me with a laugh that if she won the lottery she would give it all away, and I believe that too. It's usually not one thing that draws you to person it's the collection of qualities that make a person unique and interesting. Judy has a myriad of these types of traits. That's why when hearing "Galileo," this morning my mind went straight to a thought of my dear Aunt. A song that illustrates questioning, growth, and thought - things that MY Aunt Judy is never afraid of. Thank God for people like her, wildflowers that bloom over and over again, raising their heads to the sun as if to say: "Thank you!" Thank God for her!

The best part of knowing these types of people is that you have the opportunity to learn from them and their journey. I have distinct privilege of knowing many people of this kind. When I look upon these kind souls, deep within I hope that I may have the opportunity to touch and reach out to others as they have. It's people like Judy that remind me to live life to the fullest, to smile wider, to try harder, and to go farther. Knowing all the while that my time is valuable to others and in certain situations that is worth more than anything. Knowing this to be true after having experienced it myself. After a lifetime of benefitting from others giving of their time to me. What a simple concept from a not so simple lady: Judy Tomlinson.