29 Gifts Begins with 1 Flat Squirrel

Poor Guy

Poor Guy

Forgive me for the grossness of the next sentence.

Walking to work today, I saw a guy carrying a pancake-flat squirrel.  He was picking trash up on College Avenue and, after a candy wrapper or 2, he also picked up this squirrel, and threw them all in the garbage can.  I could not believe that this was someone’s job.  Although I hadn’t seen the squished squirrel before the guy picked it up, I have definitely seen my share of road kill and have often had the thought, “who’s the guy who has to pick that up?”  And here I was…walking behind that guy.

I was faced with an amazing opportunity to express gratitude.  And although I did hesitate (what was I supposed to say, exactly), I seized the moment.  “Excuse me.  Thanks so much for getting that squirrel out of the street.”

“No problem,” he said.  Really?

And thus began my 29 Gifts.  I was planning to begin the challenge tomorrow – Dec 1 seemed like the ideal time to begin a challenge like this (giving 1 thing away each day for 29 days).  But, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by.  I had to give this man the gift of thanks for doing what could possibly be the grossest job ever.  And, I am already starting to feel pretty good about it.

The best part is that my personal 29 Gift Challenge will culminate in our Glitter & Razz Winter Holiday Camps where we will be exploring the theme of generosity.  I will hopefully have learned a bunch about it by then to pass on to the kids.  And hopefully, all squirrels can keep themselves safe until then.

Leave a Reply