Take your pick, but choose wisely…

Interesting trip to the grocery store. The store is being remodeled and looks awful, but also better, as super high ceilings are being exposed. There is also a good sort of buzz, as if something new and nicer is coming, and we have to wait to see what.

We ran into a woman and her now 6’2? teenage son we used to go to church with. We weren’t sure, but it turns out they had left the church, as we did about 1? 2? years ago. (My hubby and I both have a weird mental place where neither of can remember how long it’s been.) Odd. I think it took a year to heal. A year to forget, be restored, and move forward.  So, it was incredibly good to see our old comrades. To hug a genuine type of person and see her son looking so grown up; it was good. He is attending a college that I am wild about. It was just so good. Like us, she left the church with a lot of hurt . I can only pray for her regarding that; also I listened. I had no idea what had happened, in “her” experience, that prompted her to leave. (She had been there for over 25 years! For us, it was 10.) Neither of us named the reason. It did not matter. What matters is the connection we still have now!

To our delight, hubby and I shortly ran into another old friend, from the same former church! She is an older person who recently had a serious fall. I got to pray for her, there in the aisle, a semi-short and intense prayer. She is a tough one, but obviously in physical pain. She, as a note, still attends said church.

In the final adventure of Kris (and my hubby – he is the beautiful stage I pivot and dance on…) there was a line for the self-checkouts. I usually don’t experience a line there. As it turned out…just as it was our turn, a lady with arms laden jumped in front of us and took our machine! It was a little angering, yet I felt sorry for her sore arms, and also it was simply comical.

Now, this is the confection, the sweetest part, our delicious reward. As the laden lady jumped in line, a lovely girl with cool hair, trendy sweats and a boyfriend quipped: “These lines. They are so…unexpected.” She made me laugh with her wry, dry, witticism. It was perfect timing and made us all 4 laugh happily- which took away any trace of irritation or indignation over the stolen place in line. (And, truly, it doesn’t matter. There are bigger things. Likewise when people cut me off on the road. I say “Eh” and I don’t sweat it. It is not worth it. As for the lady, she can have “my” place;  she was heavy-laden,  it’s okay. I can let it go. Why not? It’s not such a big deal!)

As for my clever new buddy. I loved her! We were obviously really alike in perspective and philosophy. Then…during a curiously bustling night at the grocer’s, my hubby and I got the next spot. Life was already good. Then, get this.  A line opened up right beside us! It was strangely obscured, at the very end. On a nutty impulse, I jumped out in a ridiculous, vaudeville pose in the wide aisle (already wearing a HOT pink scarf with a shiny silver puffer coat), and motioned dramatically to my new friend/her beau that there was a place for them! They were stunned, and then glad, and then amused. (It may all sound too melodramatic for grocery lines…but notice the ferocity of waiting in line, the next time you go!)

As she scooted by to her checkout spot, my new sister (who must be from out of state) said to me, “We’re friends!” It was perfect. Yes, sister, you are a friend of mine. If I could clone cool women like you, oh if only! Do you ever feel that way?

It was a great, remarkable night at Kroger. It was what life should be, always. (Commiseration, comedy, compassion. camaraderie.)

Yeah…it was a good one.