One of the things that I’ve enjoyed with both of my shops is when a customer purchases something from me as a gift.  It can be a bib or blanket, a Christmas, birthday or baby shower gift.  Whatever the event it just makes me happy to be in on the occasion.

My first earlybirdcafe customer, a dear lady from Maine named Paula.  She has bought for herself, for neighbors, friends, one in particular was for a young man named Jonas who was in the midst of exams at Northeastern University in Boston.  He’s received more than one care package and I’m always happy to be a part of these.  Recently I asked Paula to tell me about Jonas and received the sweetest note of praise for this college kid who has become her “adopted grandson”.

“Well Mary you asked about Jonas, one of my favorite topics.”  She told me about how he came to work for her when he was just 9 years old.  She needed help with some physical stuff like lifting and carrying.   Very shy, innocent and scared, signing up to help with everything from shoveling snow to bringing in groceries, laundry, and rubbish back and forth.   He spoke only please, thank you, yes and no in the beginning.   As Jonas grew, so did the responsibilities  in the 9+ years he worked for her.  Eventually he was running errands, banking, helping with her antique business and so on.
 

It was obvious that she’s had an influence in his life.  “She has acted as a good boss, teaching me what it means to be an employee, while also helping me learn to listen, and just be more understanding.  Probably most importantly is I’ve had to be accountable for my mistakes, but also have been able to learn and quickly move on from those mistakes.”
I was also impressed with the other things Paula told me about Jonas; being an honors scholar, captain of the soccer team and tennis team, class president the list is endless. Not only that but she told me that he is movie star handsome with bright blue eyes. Everyone of her friends is smitten with him and they are all in their 60s and seventies.  With that I had to see for myself and she was right!  Of course, I’m old enough to be his mom.

Naturally, she was very sad to see him go at first but he is having so much fun and doing so brilliantly at Northeastern that she was soon was sharing his enthusiasm. He just declared his major in political science and economics.  This summer he will be back in Maine interning in Maine US senator Susan Collins office.  Even while he’s away they keep up via emails, skype, etc.

Paula also shared that he is quite a foodie and loves good restaurants and well prepared fresh food in general.  She tells me that he is a great cook himself and very health conscious though not so much as to be annoying.  Bacon doesn’t scare him!!  He has become her “adopted” grandson and I can certainly tell that she adores this fine young man and I understand more clearly why.

Over the years he moved from carrying groceries to being her driver and helping in any way that she needed him.   In many ways being her legs and arms, especially with seasonal decorations and arranging of antique showcases.  What came through this was a solid relationship which brought two individuals from opposite generations to become good friends.  While he was an employee the time that they were together facilitated lots of time to talk about the daily news, opinions on elections, TV shows, even people watching.  They would also explore all the local eateries for weekly lunches, and soon began appreciating the friendship more than the job. 

Jonas got to know all the characters and drama of Paula’s retirement community.  He explained, that was where he learned the “smile and nod” of the elevator.  At the same time he exposed her to the life of a high school teen and all of the different obligations and teams one can assume.

While it is interesting to investigate family history and genealogy with shows like the new, “Who Do You Think You Are”  I am equally interested in unique people and these special relationships, like Paula and Jonas.  Not blood related yet each has had an incredible, positive and profound effect on the other.  It is so refreshing to hear about this outstanding young man and obviously the bond that is between them.  It was easy to see that each of them has had a positive and instrumental effect on the other.  Paula was blessed by not only the work that Jonas did for her but the friendship that has formed.  Jonas has a cheerleader, a mentor, he has learned so many valuable life skills in working for and helping Paula.  Paula has this adopted grandson that she is not only fond of but she can be assured of knowing that she has played an important role in helping to shape the next generation.