Guide to Giving (Without Having to Pick Strawberries)
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I have worked in human services for most of my employable years. People are always saying to me, "it must take a special kind of person". No, that's not true. Maybe a little nuts, but not special. Another misconception about people in human service field is that the person working in the field is very giving and unselfish. I don't know about that. I have met some pretty selfish people in this field. Personally, I know I have a long way to go but if you look at my history you'll see I've come a long way from where I use to be.
Recently, at Thanksgiving, I was reminded of this when my cousin, Terry, shared an event that landed us picking strawberries all summer long. Terry left his North Carolina home to spend the summer in Michigan with me. We did the things that most 10 year olds would do, like riding bikes, swimming, and getting beat up by my older brother, Randy. Well, actually Randy had more respect for Terry than he did for me. I think he enjoyed having an audience, as he would find new ways to torture and maim me.
Yet it was this particular day that my base human nature erupted. As I peered out the back window one morning, I was shocked to see 4 or 5 little children swarming our field of wild strawberries. We rarely picked these strawberries and this year was no exception. That was too much like work (as you all know by now, I am allergic to work). Yet there was the principle of the thing. Kids in my yard! Picking my strawberries! Since my parents weren't home I took charge. I did the natural thing and ran them off. I was the big man. This was my land! I had defended my Alamo.
The next day, they returned. This time they brought their older sister with them. I knew this would be quite a victory if I could re-conquer my holdings. So I trotted out to my parcel with my trusty brave cousin at my side. I told them to "get". Apparently, the older female was brought in to be their negotiator. She tried reasoning with me but I would have none of that. She told me that if we did not pick them then they would rot and be worthless. I told her that we had planned on coming out that day and pick them. She made the point that the field was so large that it would be impossible for the two of us to pick them by ourselves. Terry started to weaken and say that we really were not going to pick them, but I interrupted his thought as I blurted out, "You have not seen the two of us pick strawberries." Terry stood blank knowing that my bragging was going to get us more than we bargained for. Yet once I opened my mouth I could not stop. "This land is our land and these are our strawberries. Now leave!" I pointed towards their house and smugly grinned, giving her no chance for a rebuttal. I had clearly won this debate. I was the king of the strawberry field.
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