Tag Archives: American Idol

Letter #7 of 52: Russell Up a Smile

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. — William Arthur Ward

One person, with one heartfelt gesture, has the potential to define another person’s day.

Rustle (rus-tle) transitive verb

  1.  to cause a rustle
  2.  to obtain by one’s own exertions—often used with up 

Russell (russ-le) proper noun

  1. exceedingly friendly cashier at Leesburg, Va, Bloom grocery store
  2. unofficial goodwill ambassador who exhibits stand-out, small-town charm

           

Meet Russell, Bloom's benevolent one-man welcome committee. (real photo TK)

So I started my last blog with the intention of writing about Russell, but my meandering mind couldn’t stumble past the first paragraph about my unhealthy obsession over American Idol. And as it turned out, I needed to write that blog entry…for me. If you, dear reader, stopped and reflected on your own electronic idols, excellent. If you thought that blog was hogwash, let me introduce Russell.

I don’t even know Russell’s last name. Fact is, he doesn’t know my first or last name either. But that’s insignificant mush, my dear friends. Russell is, hands down, the world’s most genial grocery store clerk.  As long as we’ve lived in Leesburg, VA, Russell has been the face of first Food Lion, and now Bloom (same building; upgraded interior and prices).

The Leesburg Bloom is where Russell greets his friends.

Russell is tall and lanky, and the jolliest soul to ever scan a can of beans. It could be pouring down rain outside, or the store might be teeming with customers cramming in a last-minute grocery dash on their way home from work. Doesn’t matter. Russell, when he spots a familiar face entering the store doors, cheerfully shouts across the registers or aisles, “Hi, friend. How ya doing tonight?” I might have had the worst day possible. Doesn’t matter. It’s Russell to the rescue, his kind, irrepressible spirit instantly erasing the irritations and frustrations that happened outside those Bloom doors.

I adore Russell. He makes something so ordinary, the simple act of saying hello, quite extraordinary.  His job isn’t life changing; but his radiant attitude is. Every moment of his workday, Russell is making the world a brighter, more amicable place to be. Letter #7 of 52 goes to my friend, Russell.

If you live in Leesburg, and Russell makes your day when you stop into Bloom for a couple of essentials, show or tell him: with a little note; a bag of M&Ms; a $5 gift card for a little food (I do know Russell likes to eat); or maybe just a spoken thank-you.

Let’s rustle up a community-wide thank-you for Russell, our town’s ebullient ambassador.

Is there someone where you live who makes the world a better place? Let them know, with a brief handwritten note, like I am delivering to Russell, or with words of praise, doled out lavishly.

Be blessed—and be a blessing!

Martha, Loudoun Crazy Mom

Click above for this week's inspirational tune: "Show Jesus" by Jaime Grace.

Idol Worship & My American iLife

“You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 26:1

I must come clean. I am somewhat (okay, wholly) addicted to American Idol. I plan my life according to its airings.

When the eight o’clock hour hits, I Velcro myself to the sofa, darting upstairs at commercial time to give a rapid-fire, two-minute good night to my littlest guy, Sean. My husband, enabling my sad addiction, puts Sean to bed solo on American Idol nights (two a week). But alas, Sean voiced his irritation (disappointment) last week with a comment that stung: “Mom, when you watch American Idol, you never say goodnight to me.”

Bad mommy. He’s painfully correct, of course. I nestle in for my one-hour celebrity-wannabe indulgence, a vapid American distraction, and, in doing so, I willfully relinquish the bedtime stories and the wacky singing that’s been a hallmark of our goodnights. I hand over 15-30 minutes of mother-son bonding to a forgettable reality show. It is time for some priority realignment.  (Besides, we do have TiVo—so I can always sink into my sofa after bedtime.)

My guy is eight. Still a youngster who doesn’t mind his mom smothering him with kisses (provided it is out of sight of same-aged onlookers). He tolerates me rapping The Cat & The Fiddle nursery rhyme  (unlike the other five, who slump down in the car seats or turn up the volume on their iPods.). He still enjoys snuggling up with me or his Dad and saying our special prayers. He never forgets to pray for the soldiers and their families. Sean is a cool kid to hang out with, and I am trading my hang-out time for television trash.

This week, I am buckling down and getting back to the basics: bedtime rituals matter. American Idol does not. Who even remembers the past contestants, or, for that matter, any winners beyond Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.

Are you like me? Is there an idol in your life that is usurping family time? Facebook? Gmail? The Bachelor or Bachelorette? Are you constantly plugged in, tuned in, paying homage to some screen somewhere in your house, car, or office?

Do you sit in the stands to “watch” your child’s game but miss the goal or basket or run because you had your head bowed to text messages and emails? Guilty as charged. Guess what, our kids are watching us. They notice how much we miss, even if we don’t.  My beautiful, charmingly honest daughter Cady called me and her Dad out on that—“I always see you looking down at your phones.”

Pocket the cell phone. Stash the iPad or iPod.

Get back into the game of life. 

Mike and Sean do fist pumps for our Steelers.

Our kids want to play. And be read to. And snuggle. And be cheered on from the sidelines.

American Idol, meet TiVo. I will see you when I see you.

I have my own reality show to star in. 

Be blessed–and be a blessing!

Martha, LoudounCrazyMom

PS–Later today, I’ll hunker down in front of this screen again to tell you about my Letter #7 of 52. Right now, I need to get myself dressed for Sean’s midday basketball game, which I intend to watch in its entirety. :)

Cady presents her Mother's Day creation -- chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Song of the Week--Control by Royal Tailor