The Little Things

For years, I have read, and heard, and believed  "It's all about the little things"

This quote by Robert Brault  sums it up nicely:
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things"

Through years of trial and challenge, I try very hard to appreciate the little things.
The planner in me pays attention and takes mental notes of the little things.

The small things.

Like my Dad's way of cooking the latkes for Chanukah.

Or my Grandmother's way, which then became my Dad's, which has now been passed down to me,
of making eggs with onions on a weekend morning.

The little pancake things he makes out of bread crumbs and eggs that are leftover when we have baked chicken.

And also, thank G-d, for Discount Tire checking the air in the car's tires, since I'm challenged in that regard.

And on the reverse side, what is small to me, "nothing" or "no bother", i am
finding is more significant when it comes to my parents.
Items such as
--taking out the garbage
--changing a light bulb
--helping them get dressed or ready
--escorting them to a doctor
--doing the grocery shopping or running errands

During the writing workshop I attended and mentioned in a previous blog post,
the first thing we wrote about, as a warmup, was "jello":

"I'm sure there are people who love jello, but hearing as a kid it was made out of horse hooves just kind of killed the taste for me. However, I place sentimental value on pistachio jello because it's an ingredient used in a dish my Grandma would make, that my family still makes, that we affectionately call green glop."

I started out thinking "ugh, jello"...What on earth am I going to write because I don't really care for it almost as much as my hatred of nuts and peanut butter, but it was referred to as "the backdoor into my brain. Jello, a little thing to me, lead to a warm memory of my Grandmother on what would have been her 102nd Birthday.

The things that are little to us are big to others.

The things that are little to others can be huge to us.

Watching the Beaches remake as I write this, I am
doubly reminded not that only that it is about the little little things,
but about enjoying the time we share together on our own terms.

Make the most of a challenging situation by cherishing the time spent together, and realize it's all part of the journey.

My feelings were vindicated when I came across this FB post this morning from my Dad, who unknowingly echoed my own sentiments:
This past weekend was so good. Marion, Jeff and I spent the better part of 3 days together, enjoying each other's company, laughing, joking, watching various TV shows including the 2 blowout football games, running errands, fixing and eating dinner, I did not go near my computer all weekend which is a great accomplishment for me. Notwithstanding the rain, clouds and wind it was a great weekend.