Today’s “photo” is a scan of a post-it note I put in Chloe’s lunch back in April, 1999 (when Chloe was 5 and in kindergarten) and on which I had drawn a comic featuring my alter ego Heartman. Each morning I’d pack her lunch and quickly draw a Heartman comic, each one having to do with something that I’d recently done, most commonly with Chloe. She’d discover the comic in her lunch and even though I knew she couldn’t read the words, there was enough familiarity that she’d figure it out. For instance, each comic included Heartman saying, “Hi, Chloe!” This one has us doing something we’d done together the night before, make pudding.
I got to thinking about these little comics when we were in Chloe’s dorm room over the weekend. She has several of them taped up on the wall above her bed.
Today’s Prompt: Share a family ritual.
Andy Smallman 
This is not a reply to your prompt, but a description of an act of kindness that was not easy for me to do. I was a “heartman” for my husband today. Here in Salt Lake, Utah we are in the midst of a five day snow storm which is dropping 10 inches a day in the mountains. Tommy has not gone skiing the last two days because it was VERY windy with heavy dark overcast skies. Last night we discussed the possibility of going, me too, IF it seemed like I would be able to manage the conditions!
This morning he was so excited; the skies were partially cleared and another nine inches of snow was expected by days end. I really wanted to go because it looks like a winter wonderland out there, with bright sunshine rays showing through the breaks in the clouds.
However I was nervous as I am not a good skier and it is always difficult knowing if the conditions will be too difficult for me — this year he has been staying with me because if I fall, I need help getting up. And my knees always tell me when it is time to quit — much earlier than he needs to quit!
I kind of hemmed and hawed about going, but finally realized he was so excited about having a deep powder day, I could not ask him to stay on the easy groomers with me. So I just said, “You go enjoy the powder!”
He did not hesitate to accept my offer, but just before leaving he said “I feel guilty because I know you can’t go without my help.” He then told me what a wonderful wife I am!! There were tears in his eyes.
Sometimes you know the right thing to do, even if perhaps you struggled coming to that decision. There is always the potential of an unexpected reward for a kind act!
I kind of imagine there was a wonderful sense of reward upon seeing several of your Heartman notes taped above Chloe’s bed.