Day 21 -- Yard Sale, Part 2

I helped at the yard sale. Unfortunately, she didn't advertise and the house isn't on a very busy street so the attendance was disappointingly low. She put me in charge of watching over the jewelry (easy for small things to "disappear") and gave me the OK to make whatever deal I could. She's in financial distress and just wanted to sell her stuff and get some quick cash. She had mostly costume pieces, but I noticed two gold rings (engagement-type ring, but with CZ and not real diamonds). I couldn't tell if they were 14kt or not (the inside marking was too small), but I thought they might be.

People come to yard sales and try to buy all the "junk" jewelry at one, low price, hoping there might be some gold in the lot. And gold re-sale is at an all-time high right now. A woman who zeroed right in on the rings wanted to give me $5 for each ring and my friend was going to let them go at that price (she just wanted to move the merchandise!), but I thought they might be worth more if sold to a gold dealer. I told her I would take them to a friend who has frequent "gold parties" and see if I could get more than $10 for the pair. If not, I would return them and she could sell them at her follow-up yard sale next Sunday. I could have just let the gold-savvy woman buy the rings at the offered price and not get further involved, or I could have purchased the rings myself in order to re-sell and make the profit, but I did the NICE (and ethical) thing and offered to sell the rings on her behalf. She was so happy at my suggestion.

I had my eye on pair of pretty sterling, onyx and marcasite earrings that were just my style so I offered her $15. (I knew she wouldn't be offered more at this yard particular sale and $15 was a more-than-fair price.) She totally surprised me and said she wanted me to have them as a gift for helping her! That was so NICE and I was very touched! As I said before, being NICE to others brings NICE back to you and I learned that today.

At home I discovered that the earrings perfectly match a bracelet I own but rarely wear because I have no earrings that work with it. I've been wearing my NICE, new earrings, with the bracelet, all day.

Day 20 -- Yard Sale

An acquaintance asked several women in a group I belong to for help with her yard sale tomorrow. I shocked myself when I immediately said "yes". My standard operating procedure is to quickly and automatically plead unavailability (usually with a made-up excuse), or if I do agree, I'll start thinking of ways to get out it. And if I can't get out of it I'll do it but feel resentful.

This woman is struggling. And her plight really moved me: due to the bad economy she's lost her business and her house and has to move in 30 days (the reason for the yard sale). I really wanted to help and I had no problem saying "yes" (Am I changing? Am I becoming NICE? Time will tell). All I know is she was so happy that I volunteered (no one else did) and I am really looking forward to tomorrow.

Day 19 -- September 11th

Today is the anniversary of 9-11 and the President has designated it a national day of recognition and service. A day to be NICE.

What I remember the most from that awful day and the weeks after is how this tragedy brought people together. People seemed to really go out of their way to be kind and be of service in whatever way they could. People tread delicately. Being more kind, patient, tender in their interactions than I'd ever seen. Everyone wanted to help.

I was moved as I watched the search and rescue dog teams sniff through the piles of debris, looking for survivors. I sent money to their organization. I gave blood. I attended fundraisers. I prayed. Everyone I knew was doing something--mostly on a small, personal scale, but some on a large scale. It opened my eyes to the beauty that can exist in the midst of horror.

Day 18 -- Maybe I Ain't So Nice

A friend was in town on business and made a point to call me so we could get together sometime during her visit. I really appreciate her making the time to get in touch as I don't often do that when I'm in another city. I think it's because I get stressed trying to make plans with people when I'm not always sure of my activities/schedule when I'm traveling. I guess I find it easier (or I'm just lazy).

But, I really like this friend and it's always wonderful to get together and I really was looking forward to visiting, but we could never get our timing right.

I thought I was going out of town and when that was postponed she invited me to an impromptu dinner party. I accepted but the day didn't go so well, mainly because I was feeling out-of-sorts with continuing sinus problems and had been sneezing all day long. I took some Benedryl (which makes me sleepy) and we were dealing with some serious family issues as well so all I really wanted to do tonight was take a bath and go to bed.

As much as I wanted to see my friend, I canceled at the last minute (not very NICE). She's a wonderful person and understood my predicament and was so gracious and sympathetic (why I like her--she has a mellow attitude about such things) and said she'd call the next day to check on me (which she did---that was really NICE).

Day 17 -- Half Way

I'm at little past the half-way mark of THIRTY DAYS OF NICE and have learned that doing this daily is starting to instill in me a real desire to do something NICE each and every day. It's becoming a habit, a NICE habit. I start the day thinking "What can I do today to be NICE?"

Sometimes my acts of NICE will be something as simple as saying "hello" to a stranger, or letting someone go in front of me in the market, or remembering someone's birthday or anniversary with a card (so few people send cards nowadays and everyone likes to get mail). I am learning when you do something NICE, NICE comes back to you.

For instance, I was walking my dog the other day and brought along a dollar and a quarter to buy a soda at the corner gas station. When I got to the soda machine, I put the dollar in the machine, but realized I lost the quarter somewhere along the way.

Just then, a homeless man in a wheelchair (missing his left leg below the knee) rolled over and asked if I could spare and change. I told him that I didn't have any money with me; in fact, I couldn't even buy a soda for myself because I was 25 cents short. He handed me a quarter but I felt so bad that I said "No, no, I'll just get my dollar back and give that to you." He insisted I take his quarter-- "I want you to have your soda" so I took it and thanked him. He just wanted to be NICE.

Day 16 -- Buy The (Used) Book

I love to read and a book store is one of my favorite places to hang out. I've purchased so many books in my life that I had no more room on the bookshelves and had to double or triple-stack them and eventually pile on the floor.

About 10-12 years ago I decided not to purchase any more hardcover fiction. After I read a novel I (usually) don't pick it up again so it seemed a waste to display it on a shelf like a trophy. (Someday, perhaps I will invest in the new Kindle book reader.) For now, I borrow my novels from the library.

Occasionally, I will buy myself a book---reference or non-fiction mostly, though sometimes a brand-new novel I just can't wait to read (sometimes it takes 3 months to get a newly published novel from the library)--but for the most part, I like my slimmed down shelves.

I really want to de-clutter my life (a never-ending battle) so I donate books to the local branch of my library. They hold a big used book sale twice a year, so I go through all my books and thin-out my collection. I took four brown grocery bags to the library for their upcoming sale.

It was wonderful to clear out some of the clutter and display a few photos and mementos on the shelves instead of piles of read-once books. And it was NICE to help an organization make a little bit of money and help others to buy books inexpensively. The only "problem" is I know I will attend the library book sale in a few weeks and will buy a bunch of "new" used books (I can't help myself), thus re-cluttering my life! But in another six months I'll do another book purge and make another library donation. Only to buy more used books at the next sale. And so it goes...

Day 15 -- Food is Love

Got an e-mail from the neighbor who knows everyone and everything that's going on on our street. (No, she's not a busy-body, she's just a nice, friendly, giving person who is the go-to gal for info.) She organizes the Neighborhood Watch and the Annual Block Party and generally "keeps an eye on things" which we all appreciate. She sent out an e-mail that one of our older neighbors passed away. (He was in his 80s) and asked if people would bring food to his widow during the next few weeks.

I didn't really know them well, just enough to wave hello when I passed. We talked at the Annual Block Party and once, while walking my dogs, I stopped to admire their huge magnolia tree that was in full and fragrant bloom. They were getting out of their car and we had a nice conversation about the tree and how long they had lived there on the street.

I volunteered to make dinner that night.

I wondered what to make and decided that I could not go wrong with a "comfort food" so I made a big pot of pasta with a yummy sauce that included sun-dried tomatoes and romano cheese and brought it right over. I didn't call--the car was in the driveway--I know I should have, but sometimes it's easier for me to do a NICE thing if I don't think too much about it. If I don't stress over the details. If I just do it.

The widow opened the door and her face just lit up when I explained my mission. She was so thrilled and touched by this humble dinner I prepared and invited me in for a glass of iced-tea. Her daughter and grand-daughter were coming over and they would surely enjoy my pasta for dinner. I stayed for 30 minutes as she showed me their home and shared photographs and stories of her husband with me.

I volunteered for another night. I'm making my vegetable soup. I think that would be NICE.