There are people in my world who bring me incredible joy without ever knowing how much they mean to me. They are not members of my family without whom I would be bereft. They are not influential individuals who create important ideas. They are simple folk who probably go about their days rarely being noticed, but to me they are the salt of the earth. 

One is the man who grooms my yard throughout the year. His name is Jose and he is one of the most conscientious and reliable people that I have ever known. There was a time when I did all of the mowing and edging and sweeping to keep my lawn looking presentable. Then came a moment when my lawnmower would no longer start and I was faced with replacing it with a new one. Somehow I shuddered at the thought of bringing a new machine to my garage and instead checked around to see if someone might recommend a good landscaper who would do that job for me. With a rave review from our school secretary I called Jose and he has been coming to my home since two thousand five. 

Jose works at a full time job during the week but when the days grow longer in the spring and summer he labors at people’s homes doing all kinds of work for them. He is an artist with a string trimmer and a perfectionist in creating a pleasing lawn. He keeps most of my cul-de-sac looking wonderful. I know that he will drive up with his trailer and with his assistant Angel even when I am out of town to maintain the look of my property and keep the members of the HOA from sending me letters complaining about weeds or overgrown flower beds. 

Jose is a pleasant fellow who does his best to do his work quickly and without bothering anyone. Years ago he began working for my father-in-law as well. He is reluctant to raise his prices even as inflation eats away at his profits. He apologizes for asking for a bit more when gasoline prices rise or if mulch is selling at a premium. If we ask him to do so he’s willing to hang Christmas lights or move heavy furniture from one room to another. I try to let him know how much I appreciate the work that he does. I can’t imagine not hearing his truck arrive each Saturday to so quietly and humbly ply his trade. He always makes me feel quite blessed.

Another person who has come to mean a great deal to me is a lovely woman named Kimberly who gives me a pedicure and manicure every five or six weeks. She helps me feel so relaxed and carefree. When I am with her my worries and troubles seem to melt away. We talk like two girlfriends catching up on stories about our families and the things that we have done since our last meeting. We laugh and solve the problems of the world.

Kimberly is a brilliant woman who came here from South Korea. She has a son who is in advanced classes in middle school. When she is not working she provides him with books and travel and experiences to enrich his mind. She speaks so lovingly of him as she recounts taking him to the library or watching him give a presentation in one of his classes. 

Kimberly works hard washing and massaging and beautifying people’s hands and feet. Her care and gentle touch is almost spiritual. It reminds me of Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Jesus and then drying them with her hair. It is a loving gesture that makes people feel good. In my case, it is worthy of two hours with a gifted counselor. I always feel somehow mended after spending time with this wonderful woman.

Kimberly is reading books written by Dale Carnegie. She learns from his wisdom and passes on her discoveries to me and other people she meets. She smiles and remembers names and conversations. She knows how to make everyone feel special and important. She has a special gift that not everyone masters. Perhaps it lies in her naturally loving and kind nature. 

There have been times when I have come to Kimberly in pain from an injury to my leg or feeling low because of challenges in my life. She listens to me attentively and almost always gifts me with a wise observation that seems to set everything right again. I look forward to being with her and hope that she understands how much I admire her hard work and her optimism. Somehow an extra nice tip does not seem to be enough to let her know how important her joy is to me and the people that she encounters in her work. 

There are people in our world who do not have impressive degrees or fancy titles who nonetheless become indispensable to us. They toil without demands and do work that we do not know how to do as well as they do. I suspect that we all know someone like that. It may be the janitor who cleans our office or classroom in the middle of the night. Perhaps it is the friendly waiter who makes us feel as though we are royalty. Maybe it is the crew that carries away our trash or the worker who restores the electricity when a storm makes our homes go dark. They are the heroes who keep the world operating the way it should and they do it with a smile and determination. I salute them all, but especially Jose and Kimberly. Words don’t seem sufficient to express my gratitude for them. They rock my world.