A Thrill Of Hope...

Every day in December I've been writing an advent entry of a XMAS story. Tomorrow is the final entry, but enjoy today's entry, and then follow the link to start at Day 1 and read the whole thing.

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It was a beautiful, clear night. Avi and Eli were lying out under the stars, enjoying the cool, crisp air, relaxing, even while keeping an eye out for any potential threats, after all, their sheep were quite valuable. The fields were quiet, though, save for the occasional bleating coming from the flock.

What's the Point?

This past weekend, my family took a quick trip out of town for my kids' Regional Cross Country Meet. I, unfortunately, was not able to go with them, which means I was home alone for a couple of days. This is not the first time I've been home alone without my family, but it is definitely not the norm, and I had a few realizations while they were away.

First, I was able to get a bunch of stuff done. It's amazing how much you can get done when there's no one expecting or wanting you to be somewhere at a specific time, and meals are whenever you feel like eating. In the first few hours I was able to accomplish about a half dozen errands. I went to several stores that I had gift cards to, and I was able to take time and browse and see what I wanted to get, something that I don't normally have much time to do.

Second, I realized how quiet it was. The dogs were very subdued, without the kids around, and they weren't really barking at all. There was no one else in the house. No one talking, no one playing, no one arguing, no one laughing, no one singing. It was very quiet.

As an introvert, I don't mind being by myself. In fact, I enjoy it. Being by myself is what recharges my batteries, and there are aspects of being alone that I really like. However, it was very quiet.

The Love of Money

Over the past few days I've seen several posts from individuals showing their restaurant bills and the tips that they left their wait staff. In each, the tip that was left exceeded the total cost of the bill, in some cases by around 5%, and in some cases by around 250%. The actual tip amount ranged from $100-$7000.

Now, my initial thoughts are those of shock. Why would anyone leave that much of a tip, either percentage or dollar amount? Also, how does someone spend $6700 on a meal, much less the $7000 tip?

Secondly, I feel a bit of envy. "I wish I had the money to leave a 200% tip. I wish I was able to spend $7000 on a meal. Not that I would, necessarily, but man, it would be nice to be able to."

I saw a lot of comments stating that posts like these are self-glorifying, boasting the posters' 'good works', but the people posting say that they are showing what they are able to do in an attempt to inspire others to work hard and get to where they are, that it is attainable by anyone. The posts are meant to be motivating and to encourage both hard work and generosity. And, I have to say, that while I was shocked and envious, I was also inspired and motivated.