It seemed appropriate. A long day in the beautiful and bountiful garden, spaghetti with some of the fresh zucchini. Back to weeding to the center bench and the glads surrounding it? Open the fancy umbrella and drink ice water to cool down. Too many bugs now.

Grabbing a book to read, it was one that Norm liberated from one of those bird house free books kiosks. It was an obvious find of great worth. Hard covered and printed in 1902 by Chitauqua Library and Scientific Circle. It is a survey of Russian literature by Isabel R. Hapgood. A treasure accompanied by a very small paperback of the writings of Descarte on top of it!

At the end of the book on Russian literature, there was Dostoevsky as the capstone of the volume.

Still astonished by the perfect gift of an absolute stranger, Norm began to read about Feodor Mikhaliovich Dostoevsky. A quote from the book had a simple and astounding reason for the success of of Dostoevsky’s writing in his book, ‘What is to be done!’

He united two things which touch the most responsive chords in the human heart—the thirst for easy happiness, and the imperative necessity for ascetic self-sacrifice. The human condition that has not changed since we were created. These stories capture our heart and it was the summation of most of his work.

Norm began to stutter in his mind and get that ‘contemplative expression’ while gently swinging on the porch and enjoying the cool evening breeze. As goes the saying, Norm’s mind makes a visit now and then. This was one of those times. The sacrifices of the entire family came into view that cause the self-sacrifice for the happiness? Norm had just finished picking some of the tasty early snow peas and Julie topped the container off with some strawberries.

A good friend that drives the UPS truck showed up as Norm was walking to the house with the small bounty in a Tupperware container. The driver that has always deserved gifts of coffee in the winter. As Sean, the driver,reached for the package, Norm offered up a question; “Do you like Snow peas?” It was affirmative and the home grown strawberries were a sweet topping on the container. Perfect timing. Sean said he would bring back the plastic container and the gift was given. As usual, the fellowship between them was brought to the forefront with smiles. A hard days work for them both and the gift and the giver were blessed with those smiles.

Gifts from God and hard work to draw them out of the seeds that contain all of the information to grow. Very small seeds, as all life draws from that beautiful creation of the seed and the pollinator. Hard, honest work culminating in worship and grateful hearts. It’s pretty good. Jack Gator