I just chased down the mail truck: two blocks on Main in my car. The weekend postal workers didn’t know that the mailbox was installed on the side street; the mailman said we could leave a note on the front door to let them know where to go. He was kind.

These days are interesting. There was a sudden rush and we were about to open when everything changed to two weeks from now. Now we’re still set to open mid-month, but the port in southeast Asia is closed and we may not be able to get proper inventory until March. Erik is talking about consolidating both stores into one for a while, which, selfishly, I don’t want. Selfishly, it means we won’t need to hire the new crew, and all the OG people will be in my space, and I’ll essentially be operating as a trainee in my own store, learning everything on their terms.

That’s selfish. It’s business and not about me. But I was hopeful to move into the role I was hired for, and to finally start developing a routine and a team to play on, and finally become part of something. So far everything I’ve done for work has been alone in the empty building, and I’d like to feel useful to others, and useful with others.

It’s not all bad. I’m still taking that gardening course, which is great, and I’ve been volunteering at the alterations shop that the pastor’s wife owns. A little ironing, some seam ripping, a few hems on the serger… She’s been really patient with me, and appreciative; I’m met with a smile and leave with a light step.

And I’ve spent more time with the boys as well. The new gym is opening soon and Chris and Jennifer’s practices are picking up. I got to see the boys several days last week and pick them up twice this week, so that’s been really good. They found the harmonica in my glove box and we’ve had music for the ride home.

Also good, I dropped off three pieces of art to be framed. Two are by the artist whose studio was in my hostel in Beijing; they’ve been sitting unframed eleven years and eleven months, so it was time. The other piece is by a girl from Russia who I found online – it’s a watercolor of wild strawberries. I’m having it put in a little gold frame so the red pops. I’ll think of the forest and cool-weather camping and of good summers.

I’m reading Hard Times by Dickens. It was on my list, and the library had a hard copy. I think I understand what he’s doing with the characters so it’s not quite too depressing; the way he highlights what’s good by diving deeply into pride, injustice and insincerity… I wish I understood human nature like Dickens, and that I could put what I see and feel into words and into characters and narratives like he could. I feel especially at a loss these days, so I respect him even more.

What else. Last weekend I took an overnight trip with the pastor and his wife to watch their daughter run cross country. I’d never been to a race like that and loved it. Saturday morning before the meet we went for coffee and got hot glazed apple scones – I’d never had a scone like that and loved it too. Most of all it was nice to be included in a family thing, and to talk about life with people who look at it through a similar lens. I thank God for them, and for the church in general. They’ve been good to me, just by being good.

That’s something I want to think more about – that we can be something good for others simply by being good.

Like the mailman, doing his job. Even strangers may get caught up in kindness.