Growing up, when we asked mom for a piece of gum—typically Juicy Fruit or Wrigley’s Spearmint—she usually said yes on the condition that my sister and I would share a piece. The one who did not break the stick in half was the one who got to select the half she wanted—first. That insured that the one who did the breaking did it as evenly as possible!
On a recent drive to check out an airport for glider planes, Len and I took Lexi and Willa along for the ride. Whiskered faces caught G-force out the partially-open windows as ears flapped blissfully in the breeze. The girls were having an enjoyable afternoon.
Until we pulled into their version of heaven on earth—Culver’s. Then tails started whipping in ecstasy as they shifted into unbridled glee! For them, there’s nothing more exciting than sharing a kiddie dish of vanilla ice cream.
What’s the last thing you shared with a friend?
Tuesdays with Laurie 
That Willa is the darling of my heart! That she would gladly share a small ice cream with her friend Lexi shows what a huge heart she possesses. The last thing I shared was a laugh with a dear friend. Laughter is one of the best gifts to share.
Sandi – “Laughter is one of the best gifts to share.” I heartily second the motion!
Sweet sharing! Your parents taught you well, and now look at how you’re passing the lesson along. Last thing I shared with a friend? A long hug with Barry as he went off to work and we said goodbye for a week. Besides Barry? Like Sandi just said, laughter with a friend last night at our township meeting. Laughter is lovely.
Kathy – Hugs and laughter are great things to share. They’re sort of like the gift that keeps on givin’…
Your dog is so cute! You have two? I wouldn’t trade mine for all the money in the world. They are so precious and teach us so many things we need to learn. 🙂
AirportsMadeSimple – Yes, we have two companion animals — Willa and Lexi. We’d had three up until last year when our 14-year old House Elf — Claire (West Highland White Terrier) died.
We shared treats exactly the same way when I was young. A great way to prevent squabbles and help kids learn to take another person’s perspective!
Heather – It definitely cut down on the squabble factor.
Readers – Heather Shumaker is the author of “It’s Okay Not to Share…and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids.” It’s being published by Tarcher/Penguin this year. For details, simply follow this LINK.
How cute! I suspect if my two were expected to share something in one dish, Bailey would simply back off and let Shasta have at it – Bailey being more gentle and Shasta more pushy. The last thing I shared with a friend? A spaghetti dinner – and today we shall share our time when we four “neighborhood gals” go for our Tuesday coffee break.
Carol – Spaghetti dinner and Tuesday coffee break with the neighborhood gals. They sound like wonderful sharing opportunities!
My cat Amber loves it when Mom shares Cool Whip with her 🙂 I love the pure delight animals express about simple things like these!
Saymber – “Pure delight” is a wonderful descriptor!
Adorable! I share bits of things with my dogs all the time and boy they love ice cream! In fact, they know the sound of whip cream coming out of the spray can and line up for their share. Your lessons from mom is precious. She taught you the honorable way instead of just yelling “Share!” which I hear a lot these days.
Hugs
SuZen
SuZen – I’m cracking up that your dogs know the sound of whip cream coming out of a can. In my mind I see them as little soldiers lined up in for their share 🙂
Willa and Lexi could (and should) be the official ambassadors of sharing, unconditional love and joy in the moment! The last thing I shared with a friend? Listening and laughter and a long distance phone visit.
Colleen – Listening and laughter — two ingredients that make a positive, uplifting, constructive, and healing GLOBAL difference.
The last thing I shared with a friend Laurie was a baked apple desert and a very long evening of conversation. Both were delicious 🙂 Our whiskers are not yet as long as Willa and Lexi but our pleasure was no less I am sure.
Terrill – Baked apple dessert and a lengthy conversation — yum on both counts! Your whisker comment made me laugh 🙂
I recently shared the shrimp off my plate with Leo (my cat) during dinner the other night. It warms my heart see how he enjoys seafood treats. . . .
Alison – Ohhhhhh, Leo sounds like a wonderful companion 🙂
How sweet that the two of them can share the same ice cream!
Ah, I remember Juicy Fruit gum and folding the silver paper into necklaces!
The last thing we shared with friends was a gift card for The Keg on our anniversary. 🙂
Mywithershins – I remember the gum wrapper necklaces too! Oh my gosh, I’d forgotten until you wrote it. What a fun memory!
We shared gum the same way! And to think how even gum has now become super sized! No longer 5 pieces in a pack and no longer 5 cents a pack!
Dorothy – super, Super, SUPER SIZED. It seems that everything — including gum — has been super sized!
Cute picture! and fun concept shared.
I am an overly generous person who loves to give gifts. In 2012, I am working on not giving things….I started by saying that writing on my blog is a gift I give several times per week of my words and ideas.
Then I started cleaning closets, very slowly, each item that I permanently remove, I have to decide if they are gifts to someone or gifts to charity. 200 books went to help fund the program to assist homeless children to stay in school and 2 finger puppets went to the treasure tree as a surprise to my young neighbors in hopes of producing delight and magic – mission accomplished.
What fun Thank you for sharing and askin
Patricia – I love that you’ve donated 200 books and other items to assist homeless children stay in school. My hat is off to you!
Oh, I love this, Laurie. My dogs love peanut butter.
Hugs,
Kathy
Kathy – Isn’t it funny to see them try to unlatch peanut butter with their tongue from the roof of their mouth?!
And once a year when the fair comes to town we share an itty-bitty piece of cotton candy with each one. I get a face-splitting grin each time their eyes open wide in astonishment that their treat simply “disappeared” when it touched their tongue!
Hi,
What a gorgeous photo, that truly is priceless the dogs sharing their favourite dish, of ice-cream. 😀
Magsx2 – I was holding the dish and saying to my husband, Len…”Quick, get this shot. now, Now, NOW! before the bowl is empty, less than 1-minute later 🙂
Ah Laurie I do well remember the days of Juice Fruit and Wrigley’s as well. I also remember the trips to Dr. Irwin’s a bit of the old drill and silver fillings action that resulted from those indulgences. Ha! But an adorable photo of the dogs sharing and a telling lead-in and thematic treatment of a vital part of human interaction, one that always more than anything else shows a person’s true worth. Just this past week I sent a friend one of my specialty packages or “care packages” as he likes to call them. They should reward him with many hours of cinematic bliss.
What a lovely post Laurie!
Sam – Ohhhhhh, the nasty old fillings. Worse, the sound of the drill while you sit, white-knuckled, in the chair praying that the Novocain has taken effect.
I, too, have been on the receiving end of your “care packages” and they do, indeed, provide many hours of cinematic bliss 🙂
Oh that is a good thought! I love the question Laurie…the last thing I shared was a story (not a thing per-say) as well as my opinion. BUT last night I shared my wine with my grandma and spent some time with my cousin. 🙂
Catie – Oh how fun to share time with your grandmother and cousin. And if they’re anything like you, that’s a real treat!
Is that really considered sharing? Looks like one pooch is getting the lion’s share, there! (I love the “rules” of the gum-dividing, too). Last thing I shared with a friend? A lovely nature walk this morning in the desert!
Melissa – Trust me, Lexi (the poodle) has a long pointy muzzle that can get anywhere. In fact, we call her “The Probe!”
I share most of my meals with my friends, and it makes me so happy 🙂
In Search of Perfect – Sharing meals. That sounds ideal!
I share advice with Jonathan constantly about how to raise his two boys. I always say “Take my advice. I’m not using it.”
Barbara K. – I love what you wrote – I’m still cracking up!
I just shared an evening of great conversation with one of my best friends from high school. It had been too long since we spoke, so the conversation was simply magical! 🙂 Thank you for the enchanting post today, Laurie.
Dana – Oh how fun! I stay in touch with high school friends through Facebook, but that’s not nearly the same as conversation 🙂
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Readers – Yes, indeed, songwriter and actor Paul Williams is still alive. And our friend, Sam Juliano has the pictures to prove it over at his Monday Morning Diary (June 11): http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/spaghetti-western-festival-paul-williams-still-alive-prometheus-willy-wonka-and-harry-potter-on-monday-morning-diary-june-11/#comment-76386
Love the pic of your two girls sharing their ice cream 🙂 I do like to share…especially restaurant coupons with a friend so we can eat out inexpensively and enjoy a visit.
Ann – I’m sorry for the delayed response. I just found your response in the spam folder. Strange, because you’ve commended so many times. At any rate, I love your response: restaurant coupons so you can share lunch with a friend a have a good visit 🙂
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Patricia – It actually arrived in today’s mail — Whoohoo! THANK YOU again.
YAY!
Lexi & Willa look like the best of friends! My mother used the same method as yours did for dividing things up for my sister and me to share – it works like a charm. Tim & I love to share a fish & chips dinner at our favorite summer seafood shack – there is plenty of food for both of us. 🙂
Barbara – Oh, we haven’t had fish and chips for years. That sounds delicious!
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I like to share hugs!
George – Hugs are a very good thing to share. Thank you for visiting Speaking from the Heart and leaving a comment.
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