Last month, I was surprised to receive a package from an Illinois teacher buddy. It was rather heavy and I was totally mystified.
I was opening the package when Art walked in. "What did Carole send you?" he asked.
"A rock?!? Carole sent you a rock?" he asked incredulously.
"Actually, it's a stone," I told him.
It was a stone she had decorated beautifully for us with a wish for the new year.
Carole had mentioned how she was into rock/stone painting as a hobby during the pandemic. I had been impressed with several of her amazing, artistic creations that she had shown me by text messages.
The funny thing is, I set Carole's rock on my desk and didn't even turn it over because I thought it was just going to be blue.
I love it! I told you she was creative and talented. It was especially touching because my mother's father as many of you know was a Zen priest. He told his children that one of the family's mottos was Arigatai. It is Japanese for thankfulness or gratitude.
It wasn't until a couple of days later that I turned it over and saw this beautiful surprise.
I am thankful. I'm thankful for friends like Carole who haven't forgotten me even though I'm so far away. I'm thankful for all my family and friends here and on the mainland and beyond. I'm thankful for all of you who keep me company online everyday.
Yes, I shall be going into 2021 striving to be thankful for all that I have and not to worry about what I can't yet control.
How nice. In the early days of C a number of kids painted stones like this as left them out and about.
ReplyDeleteDuring the last half of 2020, school kids were painting little rocks and putting positive words on them, then putting them in yards, flower beds, etc., where people would find them. I live in the country, so I didn't get any, but I saw pictures on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a pretty painted rock! That sure was nice of your friend Carole, but I'm not surprised you got it Kay, I'm sure you have lots of people out there that care a lot about you. :^)
ReplyDeleteA lovely gift for a new year. You are blessed with friends and family.
ReplyDeleteI have an artist friend who paints stones and then puts them all around town for folks to find. What a lovely surprise!
ReplyDeletei love painted rocks. i have a lot i've started but haven't finished them yet. the one your friend sent is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThat one is really pretty. (I'm surprised you didn't see the other side for awhile. What patience!) Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteMaybe a thousand years from now, an Hawaiian archeologist will find that and ponder who Art and Kay were and why they were so thankful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gift!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice gift and especially since it was a surprise. We often bring paints along to paint rocks when we vacation as a family. My mother was a painter in her retirement years and found that rocks were easy things for grandchildren to paint. We've kept up that tradition. I have a Little Rock painted as a school bus that I did last summer on my window sill.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a pretty and thoughtful gift. My sister paints rocks and I actually was gifted one from an unknown person with one by my mailbox. I think it is a really cool pastime.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful rock!
ReplyDeleteNice ... it's the personal touch that counts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful rock painting. I see them when I'm out on trails, left by anonymous people who brighten other people's day. I'll have to remember to pick them up and turn them over, just in case. :-)
ReplyDeleteWell, that's a very cool rock design.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way to live.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely gift and thought.
What a lovely surprise.....twice!
ReplyDeleteThat is lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling us, Kay.
ReplyDeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteThe last time we were in California we bought a rock painting kit to do with Oldest Grandson. We all had a lot of fun, although none of our rocks were anywhere near as artistic as the one you received.
How sweet and unique!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you, Art, and Mom too! Arigatai is also one of my mottos. Along with Kapu Aloha ;)
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