Fun Friday – A lunch break adventure

 

Do you believe in miracles? I’ve heard that when a person is faced with a life-threatening situation, they can gain superhuman strength. You may have seen it in a movie – a person is trapped underneath something heavy. Someone else comes along, struggles a moment, seeing no other options, he uses all his might and frees the trapped person. Visualize that as you read this story.

One snowy day at work, I decided not to leave the building at lunch time: Everyone else left. My homemade grilled turkey sandwich with lettuce, swiss cheese, and honey mustard, on toasted bread, awaited me. As I removed the diagonally cut sandwich from foil wrapping, a thought hit me, a side of chips would go nicely with this.

I scrounged around in my purse for money and pulled out the dollar I could find. Off I went to the vending machine for a bag of crunchy chips. I slid my bill into the slot that sucks it in, then pressed A-5. The metal spiral began to spin slowly to release the chips, just as the bag was about to drop, the spinning stopped.

My chips were suspended, on the top row, by the corner of the bag. I stood there a few seconds with my mouth open in awe. That was my last dollar, anyone I could borrow from was gone to lunch. At this point, not only was I hungry, I was hangry…hungry and angry. I did what any hungry, ready to eat woman would do, I used my resources.

I put one hand on each side of the vending machine, and I slammed my large hip against it – 1-2-3 times. My chips were freed. I was not letting that machine get the best of me. As I sat down to enjoy my lunch, an old commercial jingle popped into my head – what would you do for a Klondike Bar?

What adventure stories have you experienced that caused you to chuckle?

Wordless Wednesday - Inspirational Christian Music on the Saxophone

 

YouTube Video Credit: No Stress Life

Motivational Monday – Random Acts of Kindness

 

One afternoon I was at the grocery store with a friend, we wanted to grab a few items and get out of there. The less contact with people, the better. Customers were being mindful of remaining six feet apart yet shopping during a pandemic can still be uncomfortable.

My friend and I made it to the checkout line just in time to…stand in a long line. My friend and I chatted, through face masks and all, to pass the time. Suddenly a song played over the stores’ speaker system, I burst into song, singing off key and muffled. The woman behind me chuckled, then joined in.

Shoulder swaying began, along with bobs of the head. The woman behind me was an encourager, she fueled my antics with her laughter. Our time in line seemed to progress quickly. As I neared the cashier, I leaned in and whispered, “add her item to my bill.”

The woman behind me tried to stop her saying, “no, no, that’s mine.”

I tried to smile at her, but my mask blocked that. Instead, I said, “let me get that for you.”

The woman expressed her gratitude and told me that her husband passed away a few months ago. She enjoyed the laughs and my gesture of paying for her items. I learned that her husband was a pastor, and how she had been lately to find comfort.

My new friend said, “I wish I could hug you. You’re going to make me cry.”

I felt my eyes becoming glassy as I said, “Let me get out of here before we’re both crying.”

We share one last laugh and went our separate ways. As I walked to my car a thought occurred to me, I never asked her name. Sometimes that’s just the way things happen.

That day at the grocery story was a random act of kindness that was not planned.

February 17^th is celebrated as Random Act of Kindness Day. Do something kind for someone. It doesn’t have to cost money -  post positive messages on a friend’s social media, help a neighbor shovel snow, or write a list of things you love about a friend or family member and give it to them.

Wishing you a day filled with kindness.