When you see a chance to help, take it

When you see a chance to help, take it

June 19, 2017 / 1 Comment

As mentioned in a previous post, I recently broke my glasses. Or more to the point, the left arm connector on the frame disintegrated.

Since I survived last week’s round of layoffs, I decided to “treat” myself and order a new pair of specs. Alas, even with insurance, they still ended up costing $500. Now I just hope that in two to four weeks, when the new bifocals arrive, I’ll actually be able to see out of them. (Note: In the past, this has not always been case.)

On the way to the eye doctor, however, I encountered a turtle. She was about the size of a lunch box and had a distinctive set of stripes on her body. Her shell was dark green on top and a vivid orange on the undercarriage.

Hours later, I would learn she was an eastern painted turtle — a creature that is common in New Hampshire — who was likely searching for a place to dig a hole and lay her eggs. I also discovered that her biggest threat was something called “road mortality,” which was exactly the situation she appeared to be facing when our paths crossed.

M and I were driving up to the light at the end of our block when I looked toward the sidewalk and noticed a turtle heading straight for the street. Another couple of steps and she would’ve fallen a good four inches onto hard asphalt. If she survived that, she would surely have ambled straight into traffic.

I pointed out the turtle’s precarious position. Once M spotted her, he took a quick glance at my face and immediately pulled the car off into an empty parking lot so I could hop out. Which is exactly what I did. I raced over to the turtle, scooped her up, walked several feet away from the road and aimed her in the direction of Dorrs Pond.

Freaked out by my sudden appearance in her life, the turtle gathered all of her tender extremities into the shell and hid. But I was gentle, both when I lifted her away from the sidewalk perch of certain doom and when I placed her back on the ground in the soft, cool grass.

“Head that way,” I told her, as I pointed toward the pond. Hopefully, she listened and laid her eggs elsewhere. When we returned from the vision center, no turtle-shaped roadkill littered the road so I think we were successful in helping her stay alive.

This endeavor set us back two whole minutes. Although we made it to our appointment on time, even if we had been late, the effort would’ve been worth it. Who knows what would’ve happened if I hadn’t noticed the turtle, if M hadn’t pulled over the car, if I hadn’t repositioned the beautiful animal and urged it to escape Death’s clutches. One can never know if a single act of kindness will alter someone’s life or have a butterfly effect and change the world.

Despite the madness of the past year, the past month and even the past week, I still believe that when you see a chance to help, you must take it. I’ve never regretted doing so.

–Photo by KJorgen.
To join a CSA or not to join a CSA? That is the question

May 7, 2015 / 1 Comment

Every Spring, I think about joining a CSA.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a program that involves buying a number of shares at a local farm. These shares help farmers stay in business and connect with customers interested in their wares. On the consumer side, the shares provide weekly access to fresh, seasonal and often organic foods and help preserve New England’s rural character.

The CSA I’ve been thinking about joining is connected to a 35-acre farm that’s been in business since 1780 and uses sustainable farming practices. For $400, I can purchase a half-share (enough to feed two people) that provides 17 weeks of certified organic fruit and veg such as asian greens, beans, beets, broccoli, broccoli rabe, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, chard, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, garlic, scallions, soybeans, herbs, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peaches, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, shallots, spinach, squash, tomatoes, turnips and watermelon. U-pick ’em blueberries, strawberries and pumpkins are also available.

For a couple hundred dollars more, I can buy a meat share of grass-fed beef, lamb, chicken and/or turkey. The animals at this farm feed naturally at pasture, and are raised without hormones, antibiotics or steroids.

Since the farm is close by, the weekly pick-up won’t take much time or effort. Customers who are unable to afford a share may still sign up in exchange for a few hours spent working on the farm. And, there’s no need to worry about unfamiliar fruit and veg; this CSA includes recipes in the weekly box.

So with all of these advantages, why do I hesitate? Timing. We’ve been saving to buy a house for a while now, and our goal is to do so by the end of the year. We also hope to move to another part of the state or country (unless Nova Scotia or Scotland will have us, then we’re more than willing to become expats).

Due to our uncertain circumstances, we could end up moving in a month or not until the Fall. As such, I’d hate to buy a share for the next 17 weeks and leave without completing it. There’s also a side of me that senses if I do buy the share, it will guarantee a quicker move, which, of course, makes me want to do it all the more.

The deadline to join is looming. Should I live in the moment and go for it? Or be cautious and hope doing so will be more cost-effective? I’m open to your thoughts.
Upcoming event in Keene, NH

September 15, 2014 / No Comments

If you’re free on Wednesday night (Sept. 17) and interested in discussing any and all things related to writing/publishing/journalism, I’ll be speaking to the Among the Elms writers group at the Toadstool Bookshop (222 West St., Keene, N.H.). The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.
John and Rita’s Holiday House

December 23, 2013 / 1 Comment

For many years, John and Rita Chakalos decorated their home with millions of lights. The 82-acre property, located at 140 Pond Brook Road in Chesterfield, N.H., was so filled with Christmas cheer that thousands of people drove by each year to see it.

John and Rita never charged a fee to view their home, though light knows their electricity bills must have been through the roof. Instead, the couple simply asked passersby to make small food donations. These offerings were then given to a local food bank, which serves hungry people in our area. Last year, there were so many donations that the food bank was stocked up until April.

In November, right before Thanksgiving, Rita died of cancer at the age of 84. Despite the grief of losing his wife of 59 years, John decided to decorate the property for Christmas, and even filled one tree with pink lights in her honor.

M and I had planned to drive by their house to view the festive display and the memorial tree. Unfortunately, we can no longer do so. A few days ago, John’s body was found inside his Connecticut home. He reportedly died of a gunshot wound to his head. It is unknown at this time if the shot was self-inflicted or not, but police are investigating the incident as a homicide.

John and Rita’s generosity and goodwill helped the poor and hungry. And everyone in the area knows their home because of the decorations and lights that were lovingly displayed each year. The couple left behind four daughters, but the entire community mourns their deaths.

I wonder if they truly realized just how many people they touched.

I hope so.
A delightful weekend in October

October 21, 2013 / No Comments

I looked at the beautiful leaves:

I carved pumpkins with M:

My jack o’lantern is the impishly evil one on the left. M’s is Mr. Grumpy:

I finished reading a wonderful book:

And I leased a new car. Her name is Esmeralda:

What did you do this weekend? Feel free to share in the comments. If nothing interesting happened, why don’t you do something fun now? Try typing the words “scotland’s national animal” into Google. You can thank me later.