Color. Me. Tired.
Tired - but peaceful.
I had a great weekend at
the Kindness Plant Sale. I was a bit
worried going into it – the woman who founded the Kindness Plant Sales and did
a ton of work for all previous sales died 2 months ago. Her name was Adriana Jokisch Sagrera. And she was a kind, kind soul who left this
earth way too soon.
One day a couple of years
ago, Adriana messaged me and said that she had an idea. How about, she asked, if she hosted a
KINDNESS PLANT SALE?? It would be her
and some other plant lovers, and they would do all the work. They would propagate plants, put them in
pots, nurture them… And they would
donate all of the proceeds to Kindness Activist. All I would need to do is let them use our
yard for the event (because we are in a well trafficked area).
Ummm, YES! Who could say no to that offer?
And how she explained it
was exactly how it worked. She and the other
“plant whisperers” came to our home, set up LOTS of beautiful plants, and I just
popped outside, sat and chatted in the sunshine all day, and enjoyed the
events. It was amazing! Everyone loved the Kindness Plant Sales and
they were very successful in fundraising for the cause.
 |
| Adriana in her happy place - with plants, friends, sunshine, and being KIND |
And the plant sales weren’t
all Adriana did to support the mission.
Oh no – she went all out. She
made specially shaped crayons for the Advent Countdown Calendar. She donated jewelry to Kindness Auctions. She volunteered her time. She gave jewelry making supplies to a woman
from Ukraine who was staying with us.
She gave art supplies to a child we were hosting. She donated her beautiful photo prints to
help raise money for Kindness Activist.
She donated many, many items to Kindness Yard Sales over the years. She brokered a Kindness Loan for a friend of
hers in need (which was paid off just as set forth in the agreement). She sent messages of support and love. She gave me plant advice. She loaned me her WEDDING GOWN when I was collecting some for a community member to choose from, and Adriana's dress was the perfect one. The bride LOVED IT and wore it with pride. She laughed at my jokes. She reached out and asked if she could make special letter signs for the Kindness Yard Sale out of cool materials. Those signs have been used for several sales. And in the most recent Kindness Auction, she donated
a jewelry making session for the winner and some friends. I was bidding on it against someone else who
really wanted it. Adriana sent me a
message telling me that even if I didn’t win the bid, she would love to host me
and some friends to come to her home and make necklaces.
 |
| Mermaid crayons made by Adriana - she made loads of fun shapes |
 |
| She said YES to Adriana's dress |
 |
Adriana's letter signs
(her former co-worker made the P L A N T signs for this event,
the ones Adriana made include the letters Y A R D) |
I am so grateful that she gave
us that experience. Three friends and I were
welcomed into her home last winter. She had laid out case after case of
beads. Beads of every size, shape, and
color. It was amazing! She gave us advice on putting our pieces
together, and had to physically help me a lot (I am not, it turns out, a
professional necklace maker…).
 |
| The students and the master (we will wear our necklaces to her upcoming memorial service) |
And then, too soon, she
was gone.
So, this Kindness Plant
Sale was in her honor. We had a small
table with a beautiful floral arrangement on it for her. A note explained to shoppers who she was, and
let everyone know when the upcoming memorial service will be. Her husband and young son came to the sale
and talked with her friends. They saw
the pots that they had lovingly donated after her death – we marked them with
her name so that people in the community would know which were hers. And twice during the sale we did toasts to
Adriana – to her memory, her friendship, and her kindness.
Oh, she would’ve been
happy with the event. The sun
shone. The plants were beautiful. And shoppers were generous.
So generous, in fact, that
$4048.76 was raised for Kindness Activist.
In just 2 days. Isn’t that astounding? Over $4000!!
And the money for the cause
is not the only high point of the event.
Equally important in my mind is the COMMUNITY that events like this
builds.
Neighbors meeting
neighbors.
Old friends seeing one
another again.
Newly arrived Arlingtonians
being welcomed into the city.
Sighting
of famous Arlington celebrities (Gary and Marc!).
Some highlights for me of
the weekend:
-
A little friend
walked around the corner into the sale space all by herself. “Where’s your mom?” I asked. “In the car, over there,” she pointed. “Ahhh, it is Mother’s Day, are you here to
shop for her??”. Bingo – she was looking
for a special gift for her mother. It
was so sweet! After discussing all of
the possibilities – indoor, outdoor, in a pot, to put in the ground, favorite
colors… she chose some black eyed Susans to plant in the garden and a colorful
glass heart. “Oh, here, I have a donation,”
she said as she handed me some money. So
sweet.
-
Our artist friend
was here for the sale. On Saturday she
painted portraits of guests. She was so
proud of her work and that everyone liked it. Then on Sunday, she met a young woman who is
graduating from high school and heading to college. “I am so happy!” I heard her tell the young
woman. “You are so good! Susan – she will study politics and be an
IMMIGRATION LAWYER!”, said my friend who recently received her green card and
couldn’t be prouder. “I am a real person
now!” she proclaimed.
-
Two young pantry
guests stopped to get some food as I stood nearby chatting with a friend. I asked if they needed any other food and
they said no thank you. They rode off on
their bikes, but a few minutes later came back.
They approached and quietly asked, “Ummm, can we get a flower or something?”. “Oh, for Mother’s Day?” I clarified. “Yes please…”. So, 2 cuties looked around and found the
perfect plants for their mothers. I bet
those moms were delighted.
-
I got to meet
some neighbors who I had only communicated with online. What a joy to see their faces and have real
conversation. As I was talking with a
couple, a pantry regular approached. Only,
before he reached the pantry, he stopped at the corner. He sat down all of his things (including a
boom box, which I have never seen him with before), then SAT DOWN on the
sidewalk. He leaned against the wooden
pole of our fence. I said goodbye to the
neighbors and went over to the man. “Excuse
me sir, are you hungry? Would you like something? Maybe some soup?” I asked. He said that he was hungry so I went inside
to make him a dinner. Hot soup, applesauce,
iced tea, and a chocolate bar. I served
it to him right there on the pavement and he ate it up. May have been the first hot meal he has had
in a while.
So, while my body is
physically exhausted from the work, and my heart is tired from the sadness of the
world losing a beautiful human being, my SOUL IS SATISFIED. I know that the hours put into this event did
honor Adriana. I know if she had been
here, she would have laughed and chatted and taught and celebrated the
success.
Thank you, neighbors, for
supporting Kindness Activist.
Thank you, friends, for
staying up late with me laughing and making floral arrangements the night before the sale.
Thank you, community
members, for donating so many vases, plants, bulbs, and pots. And for making cupcakes and brownies.
Thank you, lemonade stand volunteers, for serving bright pink lemonade and melty Reeses Peanut Butter Cups with a smile. $101.26 of the total proceeds were from the lemonade stand.
Thank you, Plant
Whisperers, for nurturing, growing, and delivering plant after plant after
plant for the sale, and being at the event to assist shoppers.
Thank you, Adriana, for
making the world a better place. You are
missed.
