Tuesday, December 20, 2016

A Couple Of Shopping Lessons

 Took some time yesterday to do some Christmas shopping.
Or, as I like to call it with only 6 days till Christmas: WAITING IN CHRISTMAS LINES! 

First stop was the post office.  Just needed a roll of stamps (non-Christmas for a non-Christmas mailing).
Bad news: The line was out the door.
Good news: Had a nice conversation with an older woman who was needing stamps to mail her Christmas cards and letters.  A widow; children moved far away.  She said that she knows that Christmas cards and letters are old-fashioned, but it’s her way of staying connected with distant relatives and old friends.   Says that it’s worth patiently waiting in line to make sure that her “2016 Story” gets to them in time for Christmas. 

Next stop was a store where every register line was way backed up.  One woman in front of me was rather rude and boisterous.  Kept making snide remarks about the woman at the head of the line using coupons and making an even slower go of it.  Finally, a line opened up to our left and the impatient woman bolted to that one.  She actually told the rest of us that she felt sorry for our for having to wait in our line behind the coupon lady.

A shopper behind me tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “Isn’t that the . . . ?“  We smiled.  Sign over the register clearly read:  REFUNDS AND RETURNS.

Christmas Shopping Karma can be a b#$@%, well, you know.

Driving to my next stop, I  got stuck in traffic.  A LONG traffic line where there really shouldn’t be one. I could see the man up ahead impatiently throwing up his arms and shaking his head.  As we inched forward and around the bend, I could finally see the cause:  emergency personnel cleaning up the last of an accident.

I’m thankful that we have dedicated men and women who rush in to help others in need. Worth being patient for!

Finally, I crossed paths with an old co-worker and friend (If you’re reading this, good morning Char).  We spent a little time catching up.  Not a lot of detail, just enough to know that we were once connected in this world and, somehow, still are and always will be.

Which leads be back that woman at the post office, patiently waiting to deliver her Christmas letters.
Her gift to me this Christmas was showing me patience in the long line of adversity.  And, that staying connected is important, if even if it's just once a year. 

Carpe Diem Life,
David Kuhn

CarpeDiem-Life.com

No comments:

Post a Comment