I often think about help that comes with little respect, because I so often get it. But it’s naked. I’d rather not get the help if the respect doesn’t  come  along with it. When I have received the help I need and haven’t gotten the respect, I feel the emptiness in my gut. it has lead me to ponder what is respect?

Actually it is clear–I get the most respect most consistently from my brother Ted. This is because of the time he gives me in addition to the help. You can read about some of the products of this respect in my post My Brother’s Inventions in the ‘Pop-a-Wheelies’ category. In the case of his contraptions, he listens well and takes the time to understand the problem and my limiting abilities before he proceeds with the practical help.

My friend Joel took me to Meijers a couple weeks ago to buy some flowers for my garden. I had already chosen the ones I wanted, but he insisted on wheeling me through the whole greenhouse to make sure I saw all of my options. Sure, taking me to Meijers in his car was helpful–I had asked him to–and I really get excited about having colorful arrangements to look out my window at as  well as elegant presentations for  my visitors. I enjoyed the tour of flowers but ended up buying a bunch I had chosen previously. The bunch of multicolored petunias is a vibrant prelude on my front patio. And the memory of that respect lives on.