Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Day That Went Right

We've all had those days when everything went wrong. I even recently blogged about one. But today I'd like to tell you about today, a day that went "right." If I'd had my mind on mundane things, these sweet small acts of kindness would probably have flown by unnoticed.

It started this morning with me shuttling my mother to her medical treatment in Paris, Tennessee. After the medical aids wheel her into the room, I have two hours and thirty minutes to waste. Somehow I have yet to be bored. In fact, a few times I've had to rush to get back to pick Mother up on time.

Today, my first stop was Walmart. In the checkout lane, a young lady let me go in front of her, because as she said, "You only have two items, and besides I want to read this gossip tabloid." She added, "I'm really ashamed that I read this stuff, but I just can't help it." I picked up a Southern Living magazine and told her to hide it inside. I laughed when she actually did.

The conversation took off from there. When I told her I was an author, she became excited and announced it to the checkout clerk and everyone else within hearing distance, declaring she'd never actually met a celebrity before, (LOL) "though both Chuck Norris and Hank Williams, Jr. have visited the Paris Walmart store."

Before I left Walmart, I gave the young woman my business card including this blog link and an email addy. I had to laugh at her parting words."The next time I see you, I'll bet the Pavarottzi will be following you around."

I left smiling and feeling on top of the world. The next stop was a Get'n Go. I filled a cup with aromatic coffee and enough liquid French Vanilla creamer to make up for the calories I missed at breakfast. Then I reached into my jeans pocket for change (just to get rid of the nickels, dimes, and quarters). When the clerk and I added it up, I was thirty cents shy. I said, "I hate to do this, but..." I opened my wallet to pull out a dollar when the young man behind me threw two quarters on the counter. "Here's fifty cents. Take it." I explained that I had the money, but he kept insisting and shoved it toward the checkout girl. After shoving it back at him twice, I relented, squeezed his arm, and told him to have a blessed day.

My next stop I bought pet food. When the checkout guy totaled the bill, I reached into my pocket and found myself two cents short on change. Looked like I would have to break a dollar for two pennies. (I spent my pennies at the Get'n'Go.) The checkout guy reached on top of his cash register and tossed two pennies on the counter. "Here you go. Someone threw these up here earlier because they didn't want them."

I thanked him and told him to have a blessed day. By now I'm thinking, "I came out of Walmart feeling like I had a million bucks, and twenty minutes later I've been the recipient of two handouts." LOL. Now I look like a charity case.

But this isn't the end of the story. I shopped for a few items at a large chain supermarket. (I won't mention the name.) When I started opened my wallet, I couldn't find the store's discount card. Without it I would have to pay full price for the sale items I had. The checkout lady tried punching my phone number in the computer, but it didn't take. So she yelled at the woman behind me with an overflowing shopping cart. "Do you mind if this lady up here, uses your card?" The woman responded, "Of course not!" and handed it to the clerk.

Because of her generosity I was able to buy two bottles of calcium for the price of one.

These gestures may not seem like much, but after dwelling on them, they gave me a new perspective. I wondered how many small acts of courtesy we take for granted, daily, just letting them slide by. These kind deeds mean a lot in this age where we often shake our heads and wonder, "What is this world coming to?"

Today I evidenced the generosity of three caring individuals. With all the bad reports we hear on the news, it's hard to see the good in others. But no matter what the news media would have us believe, wonderful, caring folks still live among us.

So, how was your day? I hope you were as blessed as I.

21 comments:

Miss Mae said...

Great post, Laurie! It's so true that oftentimes we're either too rushed, too preoccupied, or too dumb to note the "little" gestures of kindness that comes our way.

It helps to know our fellow man still retains moments of decency. :)

Gail Pallotta said...

Laurean, you need to plan a trip to Las Vegas. LOL.
I'm so glad you had a great day in Paris, Tennessee. Thanks for sharing it. It put a bright spot in my day to see the "good" side of people.

Laurean Brooks said...

So true, Miss Mae. We get too preoccupied to notice these kind gestures. We take them for granted.

Thank you for stopping by. YOU have a blessed day!

Laurean Brooks said...

You think I shoulda played the lottery yesterday, Gail? LOL. It did seem like everything was going my way.

BTW I did find that store discount card in my purse "after" I got home. Arrrghh!

YOU have a blessed day!

Larry Hammersley said...

What a wonderful day, Laurie. well, yesterday at Bloomington, IN I had three stops to make. Lunch with Chuck which went great. As usual he does most of the talking. Then a trip to a lab where a young lady, wife of a runner friend, did experiments on me since I'm an aging athlete for her PhD. She zapped my leg nerves causing the twitching and she said I was a great volunteer. I got paid fifty bucks! A visit to the Red Cross to donate my 188th pint of blood was painful however.

Laurean Brooks said...

Ouch, Larry! It sounds like you had to take the bad and ugly along with the good. Enjoy the 50 bucks! Don't blow it all in one place.

But keep a few pints of blood. As a runner, you will need them. LOL.

Have a blessed day and thanks for dropping by.

Linda Swift said...

Hi Laurie, I loved reading about your good day. I was with you all the way. I had a good day, too. You know, I think your sort of "invited" people to be nice to you because you are such a pleasant friendly person. People respond to that in someone and you bless their day. I've heard it said that it takes more grace to receive than to give. And you accepted these gifts graciously.
Hope this day and all the days ahead are also good days for you.
Linda

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Wow! You had a marvelous day. This was a great post. It just proves that if we authors would get off out computers for a while and go shopping, we might be the recipient of good deeds or we could do a good deed our self. Haha! You deserved this day, Lauri.

Laurean Brooks said...

Linda S., you may have something there. I was in an extra chatty, (somewhat goofy) mood, yesterday. I couldn't seem to stop myself from starting a conversation with everyone I met.

Thank you for your perspective. Have a blessed day!

Laurean Brooks said...

Linda W, you may be right. Maybe we authors spend too much time in solitude. Of course, we need that time to develop a good plot and awesome characters.

Still, we need balance in every aspect of life. So, let's try to get out and socialize now and then.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a blessed day.

Anonymous said...

I get tickled when I go to WalMart ad find a parking space up close without any trouble. I thank God each time for the little blessings and they really aren't to be taken for granted. And I've had clerks put a couple of cents in when I didn't have one. I always wish I had a lot of money to just reward some of the nice people that do these things. It does tend to make your day and you do feel blessed.
Love and Blessings
Rita

Laurean Brooks said...

Thank you, Rita. It sounds like you notice your blessings every day.

I, too, am thankful for a parking spot near Walmart's door. LOL.

Have another blessed day.

Unknown said...

How lovely, and I believe every word. You cannot make up this stuff--especially about Chuck Norris and Hank Williams Jr. visiting the Paris Wal-Mart Store. This was good--you must be a writer! And blessings.

Laurean Brooks said...

Hi Celia. I'm sure you've heard of Paris Landing and The Land Between The Lakes. Several celebrities have hideouts there, hoping no one will find them. They buy homes and acreage near the lake, swearing realtors to silence; but you know word gets out. LOL.

The lady in the Walmart checkout line behind me said she saw Hank Williams, Jr. picking his son up at school. I didn't realize Hank lived up there full time, or that he had a young son.

But, come to think of it, it's probably less than two hours from Nashville.

Yes, it's all true. There are a few clubs around Paris Landing. He probably plays at those frequently. But, Chuck Norris? What is he doing in this area? Who knows?

Celia, you are an awesome writer. I love your characters, your style and your voice. Heck, I even love your plots. LOL.

Than you for stopping by to comment. Have a blessed evening.

Donna B said...

It's days like that that make me realize the world isn't ALL bad! and God does still bless in lots of small ways...

Donna B said...

LOL - and God didn't want you to find your discount card! He wanted to give someone a chance to bless you!

Laurean Brooks said...

Donna,

I think you are right. The Lord meant for me to receive all those blessings yesterday. That's the very thought I had while arguing with the young man who "insisted" on using his two quarters to finish paying for my coffee.

I finally gave up, thinking "God wants to bless me through this guy." And I know he will be blessed through the kind deed he did, also.

DanielleThorne said...

That is so awesome and uplifting. Thanks for sharing! It is so easy as we go throughout our day to forget about the good things that do happen to us sometimes...thanks for the reminder!

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Love this!

Laurean Brooks said...

You are welcome, Danielle. I sometimes don't notice my blessings. But this was one day I was made aware that compassion and generosity do exist.

Thank you for commenting.

Laurean Brooks said...

I'm glad you liked it, Cheryl! Good to see you here.

Thank you for dropping in.