Giving back

What are you grateful for? What are you giving? A member of Salon's Table Talk community tells her tale this week.

Published December 12, 2008 6:20PM (EST)

Family Life

Three Graces: Giving Thanks Every Day

Mary1971 - 01:27 pm Pacific Time - Dec 8, 2008 - #45 of 59

So I work this job which has ... its moments. I always tell people that when they ask whether I like working there -- "It has its moments." And I don't make a whole lot of money, but at least I'm employed, marginally, in the depths of a great recession.

So two weeks ago, I'm in the Brookstone at work (at the airport), and they have this mini version of Guitar Hero. It's a hand-held video game inside a guitar-shaped case, and it plays ten songs from Guitar Hero the First and the Second.

I dislike video games. I'm so music inept that I don't even recognize any of the 10 songs featured on it. There's no way in the world that I need something like this, or that I will use it, or even make it worth buying the three AAA batteries it needs.

But every day this past week, I find myself back in the Brookstone, looking at this Guitar Hero game. I am transfixed by this thing I don't need, don't know how to play, and doesn't fit with my life whatsoever.

So finally, two days ago, I say to myself, "Mary, why are you always going to look at this Guitar Hero game? What is it about this thing that interests you so much, when it runs so polar opposite of your personality whatever? Is this a freaking sign or something?"

So yesterday, I did not go look at the Guitar Hero game at the Brookstone in the airport. I did, however, find, in a well traveled but rather odd location, a "Toys for Tots" type of tree. And on it, among all the names, was Jason, age 13, and on his wishlist?

You guessed it. The Guitar Hero game.

So Jason, I'm thankful that, yesterday, someone, something sent me down there to find the tree, and your name. I'm thankful that, today while I was on break, I could spare the $17 and some odd dollars for the game and the $4 for the batteries, even if it means I will have to skip dinner out tomorrow. I'm thankful that I found the kindness in my heart, deep down inside, beneath all the worry that I am not making anything of myself in this little job I have and -- while it isn't the REAL Guitar Hero game -- I hope you like it and use it.

And I also am thankful for Tinsel and all the TTers for giving me a space to tell my story, even if it isn't in a list.

Tess - 06:25 pm Pacific Time - Dec 8, 2008 - #50 of 59

Mary, I can't decide whether you're the salt of the earth or worth your weight in gold. You rule. Thanks for bringing that story here.

It's official: Mary's chemical formula is NaAu.

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