Dear Reader,
In Monday’s column I asked readers to share stories of when they found themselves in outlandish, frustrating or unusual situations…
“Suzanne, I read your wonderful email this morning about looking for stories in the frustrating situations of your life, and I had to let you know what happened to me and my family yesterday (Sunday).
There is a restaurant about an hour away from my hometown that we really love and that has featured in a lot of our cherished memories. We found out recently that it will be closing in a couple of weeks, so we decided to drive up there on Sunday afternoon and have dinner. When we arrived, we discovered that there would be a two hour wait for a table. Apparently everyone else wanted to have a final meal also!
I was starving (I didn't eat breakfast because I knew we would be having a big meal), and I wasn't very happy about having to wait so long. But my sister said she would wait at the restaurant for our table to be called, and suggested that the rest of us go to a local used bookstore that we love about 20 minutes away, and browse for a while. Her husband volunteered to stay with her, so the rest of us (myself, my daughter, my boyfriend, and my mom) went book shopping, which definitely put me in a better mood, especially since they were having a 30% off sale! We were just pulling out of the parking lot when my sister called and said our table was ready, so we were able to have a nice meal together. It ended up being a great day, even with the frustration of the delayed meal. Having new (to me) reading material made up for it. I hope all your readers have plenty of food, family, and fun books in their lives.” – Kim H.
“Several weeks after my senior cat, Ian, died from renal failure I finally ventured out into the world. By which I mean I went to our local 7/11. The girl at the register was a familiar face and she was patiently waiting while a shopper in front of me, a girl of maybe eight years old, was desperately searching her pockets. Apparently she was a quarter short to be able to buy whichever sugary treat it was. I was still very much shrouded in shock and grief, so I absent-mindedly fished a quarter out of my pocket (funny I had it at all, since I hardly ever carry cash anymore) and gave it to the cash register girl. She cocked a brow at me disapprovingly, but rang up the girl's purchase. Thankful and wide eyed with happiness the kid merrily skipped out of the store.
‘It's the second time she's short of money to buy a treat and a random person bails her out,’ the girl at the cash register sternly said. ‘You might think you've done something nice, but now she's just going to believe she's entitled to special treatment.’
For a second I was taken aback. Then I remembered the girl's eyes wide with surprise and her huge smile, so in contrast with my raw, bone deep pain and grief for my lost friend, I just shook my head.
‘Don't worry,’ I said, ‘let her enjoy her small miracles. Because soon enough life's going to break her heart. It always does.’
And I went home feeling a flicker of warmth in my broken heart for the first time in weeks. The cash register girl failed to see that it wasn't a charity. I gave the kid my spare quarter, but she repaid me several times back, by reminding me that there was still something to smile about in this cold cruel world. Even if it's just a quarter you need to buy a sugary treat.” – Maksim K.
I’d love to hear your story. Email me at: [email protected]
Thanks for reading with me. It’s so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
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