Random Acts of Kindness

I knew last Monday was going to be a tough day - the son of a friend of mine was to be buried, a life snuffed out far too soon. I had tons of work to do for Carswell because I had booked off Tuesday as a vacation day. I had to run in to Calgary after work to get the last fresh groceries for our Valentine's celebration in the TH. And I had to be back by 7 p.m. as I wanted to hear my Dad's talk entitled "How Random Acts of Kindness Enhance Health," a topic he had been asked to address with the local Good Health club.


Driving to the city was just beautiful. The sky was clear and the roads were dry. When I reached Costco a few flakes had started to drift indecisively down.


When I left Costco my car was covered in snow. I made my way to Superstore and rushed through it as quickly as I could. But still my car was weighted by the amount of snow that had fallen in the short time I was shopping.


As I loaded the groceries into Josephine's trunk and back seat the snow swirled from the sky and, getting caught on the wind, drummed into my eyes and tangled with my hair.


I noticed as I got onto the highway which takes me the first part of the way home that my engine light flashed on briefly. But it was really too late to turn back to Calgary at this point, not to mention no way to get back across the divided highway from where I was; and if the snow were to get worse, I reasoned, I could be stuck with a car load of groceries and people lined up outside the TH!


However, 12 kms onto Hwy 72, my dashboard lights gently but unequivocally faded into blackness. Josephine is nothing if not a lady! My signal lights didn't signal, and my hazard lights didn't turn on. My headlights were getting dimmer and I managed to slide over to the side of the road - in a valley - before the engine cut out.


The valley is important because as I tried to dial AMA, I discovered that there was no cell phone reception in this particular valley. I still had my headlights, though, so I flashed them on and off as a car approached me, hoping that someone would stop.


No one did. 


I wondered if I was going to have to walk to a nearby Hutterite colony. I decided the next vehicle would be the last one at which I flashed my lights and I prayed that God would get it to stop.


And ... it stopped! Out got the driver and walked across the road, the blistering tiny needles of icy snow flicking his face. "What's the trouble?" he asked. I told him. "I've got jumper cables. Let's try to charge the battery ..." he said and with that he turned his truck around and now I could see that the vehicle was full of people. He gave me his cell phone to try to dial AMA, but he too had no reception. A girl jumped out from the back seat of the truck to help him, and the lady in the front seat beckoned me back to the truck and told me to climb in out of the cold and we would try their cell phones until something worked.


I had hit the mother-daughterlode of helpfulness! The lady in the front seat was Sharon, wife of Kevin who was at that moment trying to charge my battery. They had been in Beiseker with their daughter Meghan and three of her friends as the girls participated in a basketball tournament (not good results, sadly ...!). And they were on their way home to Cochrane.


Each one of them except for Sharon had her cell phone with her. And one cell phone actually managed to pick up a faint signal, in about a 10-square-inch window of receptivity in the dead centre of the truck's console! She let me use it, and in a few minutes I got to an AMA agent who quickly took down details. The connection kept getting dropped, but each agent I talked to built on the notes of the previous one until all details were recorded and the AMA contractor out of Beiseker could find me and Josephine on the side of the road. It would be about an hour and a half before they could reach me, though, as they were actually in Three Hills on another call ...


That's when Kevin intervened. "We're not leaving you on the side of the road," he decreed. "Tell them that you'll meet them in Beiseker - we'll drive you back."


I tried to protest that it was too much, that they had already done enough, that the round trip would add 44 extra kilometres to their already long drive for the evening. Sharon added her voice to Kevin's: "You'll freeze out here. It's not a bad drive. The girls can call their parents and let them know we're going to be late. We're happy to do this for you."


The four girls sardined themselves into the back seat and I rode in utter comfort and warmth with Sharon and Kevin in the front seat. They made me feel like I was one of their friends, that this was just a little drive around the block on a sunny day. We talked and laughed the whole way back to the Esso gas station in Beiseker, where I had arranged to meet the AMA driver. And when we arrived they tumbled out of the truck and into the gas station to make sure I was going to be okay. 


Kevin gave me his card. "Be sure you call us when you get home," he said. 


"It'll be late," I tried to protest again. "What about if I text you so that I don't disturb you?"


Silly me - I should have known that this would be unacceptable to these people with the enormous hearts. "It won't be too late," assured Sharon. "We just want to know you're safe. Call us."


And with that and a hug they vanished back into the truck and the night closed around them.


The kind-hearted cashier at the Esso station informed me that the cafe was closed. "But you're going to have a bit of a wait for AMA; why don't you just go on in there and sit down and be comfortable?" I took my hot chocolate and found a booth. I asked if they sold magazines and the answer was no. However, she got me a copy of the newspaper to read, and she herself came and kept me company in between customers. 


We talked about music and tattoos and hopes for the future; and before I had a chance to start worrying about the lettuce freezing in Josephine's trunk, there was a woman's voice calling out, "Is there a Karyn here?"


An hour had passed already! The cashier and I said our goodbyes and I hopped into the truck with Jean, who introduced me to her husband Frank. My trip would be their third call for Three Hills that evening ...


We headed into the snow and down the road to pick up Josephine. While Frank loaded her up, Jean and I got acquainted. I discovered that she and Frank own a little sandwich counter and pie shop in Beiseker, so we immediately had much in common! The miles to Three Hills disappeared as we compared notes. 


They drove me right to Richard Automotive in Three Hills. There I was met by my wonderful sister BA, whom I had called to give the lowdown on my evening. She helped me transfer the groceries from Josephine to her car and then we drove to the TH, followed by Frank and Jean - it was now so late and I wanted to make them a hot drink for the long drive home.


BA and Frank unloaded everything and I steamed milk and drew espresso shots. Dad showed up to make sure everything was okay. I called Kevin and Sharon - and got them live, of course; no voicemail message-leaving for them!


It was now well past 11 p.m. I had missed Dad's talk. But I realized that I didn't need to hear it, because I had lived it on this haphazard, wonderful evening. Everywhere I turned I had encountered people - complete strangers with the exception of BA - who couldn't do enough to help out someone who was in need, and who gave to me with no expectation of getting anything back in return.


Thank you, Kevin and Sharon, beautiful cashier with the intriguing tattoos, Jean and Frank, BA. It might seem like random acts of kindness when each segment is taken separately; all put together, it was an evening of overwhelming care and compassion bestowed on me, and it gave me the boost I needed to be able to care for the 36 people who would come to Nilgiris' Valentine's evening less than 24 hours later!

That's Amore!

The magic starts with this!

Back by loud demand, Karl and Dave strolled into the TH just before 5 p.m. on Valentine's Day. Coffee for Dave; water for Karl. A quick sound check, and then dinner for our two troubadours. This year they felt free to amble about the TH and come into the kitchen - I felt that FINALLY we could claim them as part of the Nilgiris family for this one day of the year!

The evening started well and went up from there. As couples arrived, they found their tables and settled into their chairs as I poured them a glass of Pellegrino.

The evening's six-course menu

Then Tiffany and Josie took over, pouring pink lemonade punch, making the guests feel comfortable, taking out the first course - Italian Wedding soup and warm ciabatta buns. A dish with butter and olives was already on each table.


I moved to the kitchen for the rest of the evening - with little peeks into the dining room when I heard Karl and Dave playing a favourite song like Two Sleepy People or World on a String. Josie and Tiff worked the dining room this particular evening.

Tiff serving chicken breast wrapped
in prosciutto with risotto and
asparagus spears

Josie with the cannelloni course

An unexpected pair of hands:
BJ from the Rosebud Country Inn
popped in to help for the afternoon.
Brenda's peeking behind her!

As a result, I never got a single picture of our guests or our musicians! Fortunately BA had grabbed my camera before we opened and took a few pictures of the room, and I had clicked a couple during prep time.

Once again Doreen came to my rescue
with the dining room - it was spectacular!

These comfy chairs were made for
Heather and Scott to enjoy the evening!

 As I served dessert - raspberry cream in Callebaut chocolate cup, mini sticky toffee pudding and petit palmier - I saw that the music had once again worked its magic: couples sat with heads close together, holding hands, whispering, smiling at each other.

Table cloths hemmed by Norma ...

Much to my surprise, I received a Valentine myself that evening: the lovely, ever-thoughtful Becky, along with her not-so-secret admirer, Mike, brought me a vase filled with beautiful tulips and an even more beautiful card, which I will cherish for a long time.

As each couple left, the lady received a single red rose, provided by the generosity of our own Oswaldo.

Later that evening, when everyone else was gone, I could still hear faint echoes of the music and the murmured laughter. Karl and I sat in front of the fireplace and shared a pot of tea and a chat. He told me, "Dave and I love playing the Tea House. Shall we book right now for next Valentine's Day?"


I thought I heard a little noise in the entry way, so I went to investigate.


Not quite everyone was gone, it turned out ...


Happy Heart Day, one and all!

Valentine's Weekend

The feature dessert on Saturday was red velvet crepes, filled with marscapone and whipped cream to which we added the merest hint of vanilla and orange zest.

The youngest date of the week came in on Saturday morning ..

... and the eldest date came on Sunday evening.

The menu for Sunday:

But the best part of the evening was at 7:30 when Curt asked Tiff if she could clear the fireplace table. Tiff more than readily grabbed the busing tray and a cloth and headed off ... only to draw up short as she saw Jeff, her sweetie, sitting there, waiting for her.

Tiff has been one of the greatest gifts to the TH. Her attitude is consistently good and her hard work and leadership has been remarked upon on several occasions.

Now she is getting ready to leave us and to take the initial steps toward her future career. So I thought this would be a little opportunity to surprise her with a mini date and to tell her that we love her.

Unfortunately, after dinner it was back to
the kitchen for our little Cinderella ...

What a lovely weekend it was! I can hardly wait for Tuesday ...

The Friday Night Before Valentine's Weekend ...

Valentine's Weekend at the TH

Love Is In The Air ...

I got home from Edmonton late on Friday night only to discover that the Valentine's fairies had danced all the way through the TH!

My first intimation - the front counter ...

The little secretary ... 

The tea trolley transformed! Note the old music -
presented to me by my nephew Matthew after
his trip to Italy - on the brass music stand ...

The top of the curio cabinet ...

The left side of the mantelpiece ...

... and the right

My beloved piano

One of the Christmas cardinals managed to work its way
into the birdcage - notice the flash of scarlet ...

I added the cup and saucer, which I had purchased
while working up in Edmonton because it reminded me
of my very first "own" tea cup, given to me by my
friend Crystal Bloom for my seventh birthday.

The tea cup that started it all! Its home is now on the
Victorian mahogany mirror above the mantelpiece.

The Hug

Close-up of a table arrangement -
and yes, you can eat the candy!

The mirror in the entry way 

As I was admiring the heart casually gracing the hallway mirror, I caught the reflection of something red, almost out of sight.


I turned around and there was Asher - remember him? The snowman who guarded the front door and greeted everyone through December and January - with his back to me, peeking through the window. 


I approached with caution, curious as to what he was looking at...

Esmerelda? What was she doing over here? I thought she was stationed near the piano!


















Here's a question for you: if snow people's hearts melt, does the rest of them melt too?

They both seem pretty shy ...

The wreaths next to the front door

The poster on the front door -
Karl and Dave are coming back for Valentine's Day ...

Thank you, you magical TH fairy, for the beauty your wand has waved into our little place.


And Asher, my bashful friend, I feel I should point out that there are only nine days left till Valentine's Day. Now would be a good time to tell Esmerelda what's on your heart.


But Ez, may I remind you it's leap year? If Asher is just way too shy, you're permitted to ask him out on February 29 ... that is, if it doesn't get too warm before then!

My Valentine, Part 2 - The Rest of the Story

Antique Valentine card -
doesn't it suit the TH?!

 
After receiving the one Valentine's gift on Saturday, it seemed like God decided to have some fun. "Valentine's Day? Just the one day is enough for you?" he seemed to chortle. And these are some of the other Valentine gifts He has had delivered over the past days and weeks through various carefully selected cupids:

My lovely cousin, my own dear Sharon, pushed the cart for me at Costco and then bought me dinner afterwards. This after having popped a V-card in the mail for me. How I am enjoying getting to know this woman! To think that such a treasure has existed in my own back yard, within my grasp, for all these years ...

Music at church was made richer by my beautiful nephew Luke. This boy has been through fire and rain in his life already, and he is emerging tempered, malleable, strong, and with a spirit of generosity that reveals itself just when it's needed most.

Tuesday at first blush might have seemed like an odd Valentine's gift: I sat in ER with Dad for several hours. We shuffled about from the waiting room to the examination cubicle to the x-ray and lab areas and back to the examination cubicle again. There were no magazines anywhere. We got to chat and laugh and visit. There are so many demands on his time that the memory of these hours will be a keepsake I treasure.

One morning I was blind-sided. Literally. Five beautiful blinds were brought, already sized, to Nilgiris and then hung with care and obvious delight. Don and Norma had seen people squinting in the sunlight and found the perfect solution. "Some are for Valentines and some are for your birthday," they conceded when they realized that they had rendered me speechless.

As Sunday transitioned into Monday BA arrived at the TH. She had just returned from Calgary and came bearing a gift: a card and a red velvet heart-shaped cupcake filled and decorated with cream cheese icing from Deborah Joy. Deb also helped me enormously with the preparations for the Valentine's weekend ... 

Naomi, treasured friend, invited me for coffee and gave me the "purse" notepaper holder, complete with miniature pen that she had found separately and attached to the handle.

Brent came over for coffee and a chat in the purple chairs - the first time we have really been able to catch up since he started university. How gratifying it is to see one of "my" kids going forward academically, spiritually, socially. As his grandfather says, "That boy's one of a kind."


Tulips from Jackie. Jackie never forgets ...

And I received in the mail a book of the writings of Dorothy Wordsworth from my esteemed colleague and dear friend Bruce ...

And the Event this month with one of my favourite guys was enhanced by the presence of another one ...

I was given a heart-shaped tea strainer from Doreen and a card with 34 roses on it ...

... an hour of BA's time where we just sat by the fire and caught up; and another hour when she figured out how to hook my CD player to my iPod speaker in the dining room ...

 ... an entire bag of Georgette Heyer books from Kathryn, a woman after my own heart ...

...a visit from an old friend, Frances Ann, orchestrated by Cathryn ...

... and love in the key of A minor from Dan, who brought his lovely Missy for tea on a Saturday afternoon but also brought his violin and graced the TH with melodies floating unobtrusively over the chatter, swirling blissfully into the nooks and crannies of the place.

I also had a visit from my grandbabies and their mother and dad, Terri-Lyn and Collin. Terri-Lyn saw that I needed desserts and without missing a beat went back to the kitchen and cooked up a banana cream pie, just as if she had never left (Why did she leave, again ...?!) ...

... and a postcard from my Brenda in South Africa ...

... and a run to the Tilly shop on my behalf from Angela, who mercifully never gives up hope that some day I will be organized! ...

... and a flirty dress and frivolous scarf from Bronwyn ...

"And did she say she needed to be invited out for dinner?" God must have mused. Lo and behold, Dad and I were invited to the home of David and Elfie for a phenomenal dinner including her specialty, kartoffelkloesse, and a conversation that saw us in various parts of the world and at various times of history.

There were other little gifts slipped to me as well in the last few days, some tangible, many not. All of them exactly what I would want or need.

What a wonderful Valentine's time I experienced this year.  And all He asked in return was found in the message on a crazy little Valentine's candy heart:

BE MINE

If someone shows you like I've been shown how much he loves you, wouldn't you WANT to be his?!



Happy Valentine's, little TH!



Valentine's Weekend, Day 3 - The Cats Are Back ...

At about 5:30 on Valentine's Day the Men in Black swept up to the front door of Nilgiris and started unloading their gear: guitar, amps, cords, and the tiny electric violin that comes to life under its master's touch.

They checked out the place; we adjusted a table or two; they pronounced it good. A brief sound check followed. Strong coffee was poured, and ribs - a couple of racks squirreled away for them from yesterday's dinner - were served. Guests started to arrive and chose where they'd like to sit. Linda and Henry sat close to the fireplace; Tricia and Aaron nestled down into the deep encompassing chairs we call The Hug.

BA poured pink lemonade punch for everyone as the Men went outside for a last-minute chat.

Jocelyn and Norma bustled about the kitchen, cutting fruit, grating cheese, tossing salad. When most of our guests had arrived, we started to serve dinner.

Chicken crêpes were accompanied by a cup of butternut squash soup and organic greens tossed with fresh raspberries, blackberries and blueberries in a raspberry vinaigrette and finished with a sprinkle of feta cheese. As the last couples were served the music started, low and sweet.

Dave Hamilton, guitar; Karl Roth, violin and vocals

Karl and Dave were in the house.










Lewis & Dawn - the third time they've heard
Karl in the TH. The first time they've had to
drive from Stettler to do so ...

 Fingers of music reached out to every corner of the room, to every table, gently smoothing a furrowed brow, caressing the curve of a cheek, touching the corner of a mouth.  Couples moved a little closer, smiled a little more mysteriously, whispered secrets to each other. Kal and Sylvia gazed into each other's eyes in a way that brought a lump to my throat.

BA moved about quietly, filling tea pots and coffee cups, clearing plates. Norma washed fondue bowls. Josie started melting chocolate for the next course.

And I stole moments away from the busyness to prop in the entrance and let the music wash over me and once again allow myself to become bewitched by the magic of these two fine musicians.

Newlyweds Ruth & Dawson.
"It's my favourite time of the week,"
Dawson commented about coming to the TH.

They were particularly good tonight, with easy camaraderie between themselves and a real connection with their rapt audience. A few of the people this evening had heard Karl and Dave playing at the TH before; but for most of them, it was a brand new experience. The old songs danced across the strings and the first time Karl sang people looked at each other in delight.






Scott & Heather chose the romantic loveseat
in the corner. It was they who first got the
ball rolling to get Karl and Dave back for
a Valentine's Day special event 



After about an hour of playing the Men took a break, the lights were raised slightly and the all-important decision of what chocolate to choose - white, milk or dark - was presented to the tables.

As I recapped the first set in my mind, something struck me as odd. There was another musician in the audience and he was talking quietly while Karl and Dave played. Some artists of my acquaintance do this to let the performer know that the latter is not such hot stuff; this particular musician is not one of those artists. I had not much time to ponder this anomaly, however, as fondue plates had to be filled with luscious strawberries, seedless green and red grapes, miniature honey mandarins, gala apple wedges and banana coins. Toss on some cream puffs, shortbread and pretzel twists and the second set was ready to be served.



Our own Lois Lewis's parents, and two of our
TH favourites, Marlowe & Dorothy

 


I heard a snippet of Ain't Misbehavin' and dashed out to witness Karl at his most charmingly tongue-in-cheek. Soon World On A String teased its way into the room. At that moment he had the TH on a string and all its habitués wrapped around his little finger.





Dianna & Bob. Two treasured members of
Dad's Wednesday TH Bible study group,
and true jazz aficionados to boot! 


I looked around the room at all the happy, loving couples enjoying their Valentine's evening. I looked at Karl, one of my oldest friends from Calgary. I saw BA, Norma and Jocelyn, my capable and cheerful team who made this evening possible in the first place. My heart sang.

Beth and Chris.
Fairly new to the TH,
they've quickly made themselves
part of the Nilgiris family.



Miss Patsy and Sweet William.
The way that man looks at her sometimes!
It makes you go,
"Ohhhhhh - to have a love like that ..."

Finally Karl glanced over at Dave and said, "It's about that time ..."

"Yes," replied Dave. And softly he played the intro and Karl started to sing:



Rebecca and Mike. What an encouragement
she has been to me during a couple of
particularly low periods in my life ...


Here we are, out of cigarettes Holding hands and yawning -
Look how late it gets! -
Two sleepy people
by dawn's early light
But too much in love to say goodnight

Here we are in a cozy chair,

Pickin' on a wishbone

from the Frigidaire

Two sleepy people

with nothing to say

But too much in love to

break away



Ken and Bernadette: Was it almost two years
ago that you danced at your wedding
reception in this sweet place?!





 Do you remember the nights
we used to linger in the hall?
(To absolutely no one's surprise)
your father didn't like me at all
Do you remember the reason
we married in the fall?
To rent this little nest
and get a bit of rest

Murray and Jean - I have had the privilege
of playing a couple of times in church
with Murray, a proficient guitarist
in his own right

Well, here we are,
just about the same,
Foggy little fella, drowsy little dame
Two sleepy people
by dawn's early light,
And too much in love to say  Goodnight ... 

The town's cutest sisters-in-law,
arguing over the bill ...
Pat came to every event this weekend!

The crowning touch to an
unforgettable evening!





As people reluctantly started to get up and I took a few more pictures, the other musician in the audience urgently beckoned me over. "Please?" he said. And he put his arm around his sweetheart and held her hand in his - a hand freshly adorned with a sparkling diamond ring, which in no way came close to the sparkle in two sets of eyes as they smiled for the camera ... And then it became clear to me why Lewis had to speak when he did. Best wishes for the happiest of life together!

Peter with his vivacious wife Wendy - first-time visitors to the TH this Valentine's evening - commented as he prepared to leave: "I'm from Edmonton, and it's taken me coming to Three Hills and hearing these men tonight to realize that I should be taking advantage of the opportunity to listen to live music like this every weekend. Thank you."

Thank you, all of you, for a wonderful Valentine's evening. And thank you, Karl and Dave, for coming out from Calgary to scatter pixie dust over the whole TH for three magical hours.