29 Gifts Begins with 1 Flat Squirrel

[glitterandrazz]

Forgive me for the grossness of the next sentence.

Walking to work today, I saw a guy carrying a pancake-flat squirrel. He was picking trash up on College Avenue and, after a candy wrapper or 2, he also picked up this squirrel, and threw them all in the garbage can. I could not believe that this was someone’s job. Although I hadn’t seen the squished squirrel before the guy picked it up, I have definitely seen my share of road kill and have often had the thought, “who’s the guy who has to pick that up?” And here I was…walking behind that guy.

I was faced with an amazing opportunity to express gratitude. And although I did hesitate (what was I supposed to say, exactly), I seized the moment. “Excuse me. Thanks so much for getting that squirrel out of the street.”

“No problem,” he said. Really?

And thus began my 29 Gifts. I was planning to begin the challenge tomorrow – Dec 1 seemed like the ideal time to begin a challenge like this (giving 1 thing away each day for 29 days). But, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by. I had to give this man the gift of thanks for doing what could possibly be the grossest job ever. And, I am already starting to feel pretty good about it.

The best part is that my personal 29 Gift Challenge will culminate in our Glitter & Razz Winter Holiday Camps where we will be exploring the theme of generosity. I will hopefully have learned a bunch about it by then to pass on to the kids. And hopefully, all squirrels can keep themselves safe until then.