One day last week, I was in line for a coffee at the drive thru. When it was my turn to pay, the worker told me not to worry about it. The driver in front of me did it already.
I was totally flabbergasted. Did I know the driver? Who was it? Let me at least leave a tip.
I called J later to tell him about my good fortune and the first thing he asked me was, "So did you pay for the driver behind you?"
Um, no. Apparently I'm all about accepting random acts of kindness but not doling them out.
I'd like to think that that kind gesture would have occurred to me on my own later on and I continue to blame my state of shock for not paying forward the first driver's generosity.
But here's further proof of my greedy ways:
Yesterday when it was announced on Ohdeedoh that I won the February Jump Start Project, I posted a comment thanking Ohdeedoh and Etsy for the opportunity and the $250 gift certificate. And, of course, I thanked the voters too.
Then I asked for everyone's suggestions on how to spend the money. On fabric? Craft books? Art? Darling clothes for my daughters?
One of the other contestants replied that if she had won she was going to buy something to give away to readers of her blog as a thank you.
Why. didn't. I. think. of. that?
I swear I was raised well. My parents are very gracious people. OK, my mom is a bit of a hooligan. But still. I really should have put all of you in the forefront of my mind, especially since so many of you headed over there and voted for me, for Pete's sake.
So ... a day late ... As a way to say THANK YOU to all of you, I'm going to make and give away a hanging book display like the one in the contest.
The package will include the dowels and curtain rod brackets (which come with screws), as well as the fabric part that holds the books, of course. The winner will just need some basic tools--drill, level, stud finder--to hang it up.
To enter, please leave a comment below telling me your favorite book to read to your child or what your favorite book was as a child if you don't have kids. I'll take entries until Wednesday, March 11 at 11:59 p.m., then will print off the entries, cut out each one and have the girls draw a winner.
I'll announce the winner here on Thursday, March 12, and then that person and I can talk about how far apart your studs are and what fabric you want me to use (we have some great fabric stores in Spokane that carry all the good stuff).
So, spread the word and let me know if you have any questions. This'll be fun.
P.S. I have since paid the tab of a driver behind me at the coffee drive thru. There is hope for me yet.