The Thought That Counts

Example A -- the tale about Miss. Bloom and Mr. Cutter
Mr. Cutter has this thing for Miss Bloom. She recently moved in next door and they haven't spoken to each other more than during her moving-in party for neighbors and then, a few friendly words, when they have bumped into each other on their way to and fro work. During one of these occasions, Miss Bloom mentions to Mr. Cutter that she will soon be going on vacation. This information ignited an idea in Mr. Cutters head.

Some time passed and Miss Bloom, in favor to Mr. Cutter's idea, finally went on her vacation, so Mr. Cutter could evolve his idea into action. Fueled by the thought of Miss Bloom's loving reaction when she returns after a refreshing holiday and sees her exquisitely beautiful, emerald green, impeccably low-trimmed lawn, Mr. Cutter took his lawnmower over to Miss Bloom's lawn and trimmed the grass repeatedly every third day for three weeks. And at last, after 21 days of absence, she came home.

On the time of her arrival, Mr. Cutter was just about to finish his seventh lawn-cutting routine. He put on his most charming smile and waved majestically as she stepped out of the taxi, but a cold look in her eyes injected his spine with a chilly rush. He did not receive the sought-after appreciative reaction he thought he would. No, instead of a happy face and an explosive "Thank You, Wonderful!" he was met by something far less inspiring.
"OH, NO! What have you done!?" she exclaimed as she dropped her bags to the ground and put her hands on her cheeks. "My meadow, my beautiful meadow!" she continued, with devastation decorating her voice. Mr. Cutter couldn't understand her reaction and became rather puzzled, making him unable to utter a sound.

As it turned out, Miss Bloom had seeded the lawn with flower seeds and planned a beautiful meadow with flowers all over, rather than a nicely trimmed lawn. She hadn't told Mr. Cutter about this as she never could predict such an overwhelming amiability, thus making the kind-thought actions of Mr. Cutter become the opposite of what was originally intended.

After Miss Bloom had recovered from shock and Mr. Cutter had reclaimed the ability to express himself orally, they talked over what had happened. Mr. Cutter was forgiven for his actions since it so was that he only meant good lawn mowing gesture. They laughed throughout the evening while sharing Mr. Cutter's French onion soup and a bottle of Miss Bloom's tax-free wine.

Example B -- the tale about Miss Femme and Mr. and Mrs. Catching
Mr. and Mrs. Catching have been married for over 15 years. Their marriage had, after a very first year of pure passion, been a good and steady one for the first 10 years. Though lately, it had descended slightly, accumulating to boredom during the last few years. Mr. Catching still loves his wife very much but feels vulnerable and low in the situation as is. During this period, he meets a Miss Femme by chance on a business trip to another city. On the second day of conference, they make plans on going out for lunch together the following day. Said and done, they meet up for lasagna and each others friendly company. Miss Femme and Mr. Catching get along quite well and they become pretty well acquainted over a rather short period of time.

Mr. Catching starts to feel quite comfortable in the company of Miss Femme and decides to reveal his dissatisfaction within his marriage. He begins to talk about how much he loves his wife. With that said, he continues about how the relationship has deteriorated and that it is quite dull at the moment. This was not meant as a cry for affection; he only wished to share dejection with his new friend -- maybe to get some comfort, maybe just to get it out of his mind. Miss Femme was touched by this story and she didn't like to see her new friend, which she was slightly attracted to, sad. So she decided that she had to cheer him up.

The friendship of Mr. Catching and Miss Femme grew and she awaited the right moment for action. One day she came across the information that Mrs. Catching was going to be out of town over the weekend to visit her parents who lived a good hundred miles or so away. This is when she decided to begin "Operation: Enriching Mr. Catching's life". She picked up the phone and called to ask Mr. Catching out for dinner; Mr. Catching did not decline. After the date had been settled, she dolled herself up as elegantly and seductive as she could before heading out.

During the dinner, Mr. Catching once again brought up the situation with his wife, something that had become a standard. Miss Femme, which usually just listened to what he had to say about the issue, only giving a little bit of feedback, now started to speak up more opinionated than before, to the disadvantage of the marriage. In the beginning Mr. Catching was rather stunned by this, but as the alcohol ruined his judgment more and more by each drink, Miss Femme's words started to make sense in his head. When the dinner was finished, he told her that he best be on his way home, but Miss Femme insisted on going somewhere else, a club. Mr. Catching tried for a few minutes to resist her suggestion, but as she was so persistent and he slightly weak-minded due to intoxication, things developed step-by-step. The next morning Mr. Catching left Miss Femme's warm embrace, filled by anxiety and regret.

Example C -- the tale about Mr. Late and Mr Sic
Mr. Sic has a friend, Mr. Late. Mr. Sic usually phones Mr. Late every now and then to hang out. Mr. Sic goes over to his place to watch TV and chill-out. Mr. Sic informs Mr. Late of parties which they usually go to together.

One fateful day, Mr. Sic falls ill, so ill that he is hospitalized which also includes an operation. Mr. Sic informs his friend Mr. Late about this and asks him the question "Will you call me and come to visit me while I'm at the hospital?". "Sure, will do!" Mr. Late replies.

Time goes, days pass, weeks are put behind and Mr. Sic recovers from his illness. But something still hurts. Mr. Late never called, nor did he take the time to visit Mr. Sic. With a feeling of betrayal, Mr. Sic calls up Mr. Late. "Why'd you never come to visit me?" Mr. Sic asked, trying to swallow any sign of disappointment. "Well, I was going to, but things kind of got in the way but, but I THOUGHT about you every single day and…" Mr. Late used as an excuse. "But you promised you would visit me!" Mr. Sic quickly threw out, blowing his cover and letting the disappointment show. "Well, it's the thought that counts, isn't it?"

The point -- I make my say
Many people use the phrase "It's the thought that counts". That particular saying was probably created for rightful situations. Of course the thought do have a play in whatever you do, but it is always the actions that count, not the thought. A sweet thought does not cover up for the lack of actions, but it usually is a part of what is weighed on the scale of balance that represents whether what has been done should be considered good or bad. Sometimes, the thought may turn something considered bad into something considered good. In some cases, the thought behind the action, may not cover up for the bad moral of the action itself, even though the intensions were good. But a thought can never mean anything until the thought has been made into action. A thought by itself means nothing at all.

- Kaffe's thoughts put into action by writing this
May the 23rd, 2007