Covid, Costco, and Caring

Last year during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, I received a text from a dear neighbor.  He was on his way to Costco, and asked if he could pick up anything for us.  As both Ron and I are in the high risk group, we had not been going out any more than absolutely necessary, and that included the grocery store and especially Costco.  (Thankfully, we were good on the toilet paper and hand sanitizer situation!)  I texted him back and asked if he could grab us a couple loaves of bread, to which he responded: “Come on, seriously?!!!!  Give me your list!”

This neighbor just happens to be a commercial airline pilot.  Not the best occupation to have during a world-wide shut down!  However, instead of focusing on himself and his lack of work at the moment, he chose to use some of that extra time to serve others!  Those texts became a frequent thing over the next few months as the virus numbers kept climbing and spiking.

In one of my thank you texts back to him after he had dropped our groceries off on the front porch, I told him he had earned his wings for all he had done to help us.  Somehow this turned the texting conversation to where I shared that growing up, I had always wanted a pair of the little plastic wings the airlines gave out to children who flew.  In the 1060’s, 1970’s and 1980’s, flying was an extreme luxury, and something I did not experience until I was a senior in High School!  In fact, by the time I got married, I had only flown on an airplane three times in my entire life!  Obviously much too old to be offered a plastic wing pin from a flight attendant. ☺ 

Not too many days after that, I received the most adorable hand-made gift from the children of this kind-hearted neighbor.  I’ve taught all three of these children in various Primary classes in our Church, and love them all as much as my own grandkids!!!  The gift was a green paper heart (they remembered my favorite color), and there was not just ONE plastic wing pin on there, but THREE!!!  A very simple gift, that meant the world to me!!!  It will forever have a special place on the bulletin board in my sewing room! 

Being inside for over a year has been difficult for everyone, but because of kind, giving, thoughtful, service oriented people like our “Captain” neighbor, we got through it.  During this difficult time in our world’s history, we came to see first-hand people’s true colors!  Some people in the world did not handle things well and sunk into dark places, while others literally lit the way through the darkness!  Knowing you have someone who thinks about you, serves those who can’t serve themselves, and cares for your well-being is better than any material thing you can receive . . . except for maybe a pair of plastic wings from flying on an airplane! ☺  I am thankful for the light-givers of the world!

Love Ya,

Les