Its the little things

You've heard the phrase... "Its the little things that count."

Yes, its true. Some of the little things really DO matter.

Exhibit 1: Coworker wanted to "just catch-up" today. This isn't a usual behavior. However, it counted.

Exhibit 2: Friend gave me 4 beers and a puzzle christmas. Why only 4 beers? Well, despite the fact there were originally 6, two were missing...because he wanted to try them. I'm glad he took 2 and gave me four. It counted.

Exhibit 3: I got a weird package in the mail at work today- Global Express Mail from Japan (WTF). Enclosed was a card- Thank you Dr. Maria Stewart, we think you're great, a CD of photos, and most importantly a scrap book. This was a Christmas/thank you gift from the exchange students I taught this summer. Each page of the scrap book has a student's photo on the front side and a personal message on broken English on the back. Wow. I though my thank you poster from the 1st graders was something. This is a totally different category of "little things." This was way better than any purchased item they could have sent me from Japan. Its the little things that count.

Exhibit 4: I was baking up a storm in preparation for the holiday- Gingerbread cookies, pie, tortillas. Baking of this nature requires serious music, so I turned on the record player. Records jammin'. Then I put on Guero by Beck. This is a 45. I set the record player to 45 in preparation for more jammin'. Record starts while I"m in the middle of managing melting cookie dough (this is what gingerbread cookies do when you're kitchen is 95 degrees, prior to baking) and burning cookies. Gee something sounds weird, did I forget to switch it to 45? Wash hands. Check record player. Record player is at 45rmp. Ok, scientist in action. Get a crayon and make a mark on the record label. Timer. Go. 1, 2, 3, 4.... 42 rpms on a 45. Hmmm... lets abort Guero and switch to Leo Kottke (a 33). What? Leo Kotke just woke up? 31 on a 33rpm. Uh oh. I'll roll with it. Then it starts getting all won wooon woooooooooon won won woooon on me. Consult with the 'rents yields a suitable plan- dust and lube. Dismantle record player. No dust, lube still intact. Figure I was on crack. Put on Jack Johnson, To The Sea- I have this on my iPod also. Oh Dear. Jack is singing in 2 totally different keys- one key on my record, a totally different, higher key on my iPod. Record player is on the outs. Almost cried. Then I decided it didn't matter. So I put Jack on, head phones in. Life is good. Long story short... Record player is obviously a member of the fam, but its just a material object. Time to think about what really matters, like the little things... and make 'em count.

Merry Christmas.