Today’s giving: Put some thought into my mother’s birthday. 

I’m as guilty as anyone. I run out and buy a last minute present at a store, send a gift card, or forget entirely. But this year, with my daughter’s help, we put together two small photo albums of old 35mm prints. We added birthday cards and got the package ready to ship. I *think* this gift will be very much appreciated.

Also, I was the recipient of someone’s gift of time.

This morning our washing machine broke. Dead, kaput, trash-heap broke. My wife volunteered to get a new one. After she brought it back to the house, two friends volunteered a hand truck, tools and a whole lot of muscle to help me get that extraordinarily heavy washer upstairs. After two hours, a flight of stairs, a lot of sweat, some curses, and a few laughs, it was installed.

Giving makes one appreciate receiving all the more.