Thankful for my job. Actually, to be more honest, I am thankful for the friendships it has forged. I feel like I have a long lost sister in Jill Wilson after spending just a few short days together in Vegas 🙂 some of my customers are pretty awesome. They have taught me more about the world than college ever did. I have made some amazing contacts & I almost feel famous when I go to horse shows or tractor pulls. I also have Co-op to thank for my marriage. Shug used to come in every Friday afternoon to buy TWO 50# bags of dog food. I would anticipate his arrival, counting down the minutes, pacing in the showroom with one eye on the door. The rest is history lol! My whole life has been shaped by that store. But its more than that…it is a way of life. I have memories from as early as I can remember about riding there with my pap (Great-grandfather) to get garden seed & fertilizer, to picking out an easter bunny with my mom, horse feed & lead ropes later on, & an extra car key cut when I was seventeen & could drive myself.
Not that I don’t have bad moments…terrible days…& weeks that feel like they are never gonna end, but after ten plus years, what would I rather be doing? I hang out all day, talking to my friends. If nothing else, the job has given me plenty of writing material. You might as well laugh as cry. And thats how I want to spend my life.
Thankful I have never went hungry a day in my life. (yes, I know, it shows) I have been ravenous, but only until I could get something fixed, or drive to acquire nourishment.
I did something today I have never once done before.
I rarely give to charity. I know that sounds awful, but hang on. You know how it is, especially this time of year. Every store will dollar you to death. Salvation Army camped out at the front door, making you feel guilty when you walk past, arms full of shopping bags stuffed to the gills. I can’t keep up with which organizations give the most back, then to add to that, which ones support other causes that may not be the most legitimate. Also, I see MYSELF as poor. I know, please don’t lecture me on how America has the richest people overall, & how if I’ve got a roof over my head & people that love me, I’m blessed beyond measure. I know this. I’ve never had to draw unemployment. I’m extremely fortunate. However, I live in a dated house, drive an older truck, & don’t live extravagantly by any standards. So I typically don’t donate. Then you see these people at gas stations, begging for money to go see their Grandmother who lives in Nashville because she’s had a heart attack & their car’s broke down, could you spare a dollar for gas? And you know full well they ain’t goin’ to see their Grandmother. I’m terrible. I judge. I know we’re not supposed to, we’re supposed to love everyone equal, but I fail. A lot.
Alright. So I’ve had subway on the brain since last night. Home of the $5 footlong. I had prepared by bringing my own mountain dew & chips because that’s where they gouge you. I head out promptly at eleven, drink in hand. I’m passing Sevier County Bank & there at the corner is a guy, pacing & holding a white sign written with black marker “Hungry & Stranded.”
We didn’t lock eyes or anything, & normally these people are out of my mind as soon as they’re out of my sight. But not today.
God: “You should take him to Subway.”
Me: “Too late, already passed him.”
God: “Go back.”
Me: “No. He is not riding in my truck. He might cut my throat. And its too cold for him to get in the back.”
God: “Well, you could take him back a sandwich.”
Me: “I guess. But I’m limited on time.”
God: “Doesn’t seem to affect you when you eat with someone.”
Me: “True…well, we’ll see.”
I pull up to Subway, still trying to talk myself out of it. I get out, & there lays a crumpled dollar bill. I pick it up & stick it in my pocket.
God: “Helped you out a little.”
Me: “Mm-hmm. But they’re FIVE dollars.”
No answer.
I walk in. There is a long line, especially for this time of day. But I had my heart set on Subway.
Me: “He’s not gonna want a sandwich. He’s gonna want something hot.”
God: “Meatball subs are hot.”
Me: “Dang. You got me there.”
God: “Get the meatball.”
Me: “The bank has probably ran him off by now.”
God: “Well, then you can eat it tomorrow.” (ok, that may have been me)
A lady walks in behind me. I’d been there several minutes by now, so I ask her if she had came through town. She hadn’t, & I explained why I asked. She said I would be doing the right thing. Okay, O-KAY. I order my sandwich, then the meatball.
Subway employee: “What do you want on it?”
Me: “I have no idea.” I blink, listening for God. He’s went silent. “What do most people get?”
She offered peppers, onions, etc. I got onions, men like onions. I pay~including the crumpled dollar~ (no drinks, I’ll give him my can of mountain dew, I have another in reserve back at the store). I jump in Patsy, hurrying now that I’m committed, hoping he’s still there, then thinking, is that wrong to hope he’s still there? That he’s still stranded? And hungry? I see him. He’s ditched the sign, it looks like he’s leaving. But no, he turns. He’s pacing in front of a clean, newer model white car. Not anything nice, but an economy type. I miss the light to turn, so I pull into the bank & park, take my sandwich out, & grab the bag. My heart is pounding. What could happen? We’re at a main intersection & its broad daylight. I have a knife. I approach him, but his back is to me. He turns & looks at me, crossing the grass. He looks cautiously hopeful.
“Did you have a sign a minute ago?”
He nods. “Yes.”
I hold out the bag. “I brought you a sandwich.” I start to cry & cover my mouth. “I wish I could do more.” I looked into his eyes then. I still don’t know if he was a drug addict or legitimately down on his luck, but he said “Bless you,” at least twice before I turned on my heel & beat it back. I fed someone today, whether it be a rat, his girlfriend hiding in the bushes, or him, but God laid it on my heart to help him, so I did. I would like to say I’m not still warring about it but I am. I didn’t do that lightly. And I didn’t tell y’all about it to get praise, or I would have spun it way different, making me into a modern day Mother Teresa, but that’s how my singular experience went helping someone out. And, I forgot to give him my mountain dew, so I spent the rest of the day wondering if he had to edit his sign to say: “Thisty & Stranded”. I know, I’m not funny. Sorry it was so long.
Because I got another number, & because I’m bored…and because its kinda fun, y’all have to endure five more 🙂
1) My name isn’t really Amy. I have no idea how I ended up with it because my initials spell AMI. Well, they used to, anyway. And if you want to hear a funny story, ask me about Maynard.
2) I have three tattoos. I would like about five more lol
3) I am TERRIFIED-like, pee my pants scared-of snakes. And I’m not keen on squirrels.
4) I have not owned a horse in six years, & I don’t miss them. I have not ridden in almost two years, but I dream about showing often.
5) I shed tears for every strong emotion. This happens far too frequently, & makes it very difficult to express myself when I actually need to get words out. Hence, my preference for writing.
(If you like or comment on this one, I won’t hold you to sharing yours 🙂 unless you want to. But I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s)
Thankful for my hairdresser, Christy Finchum. She goes above & beyond the call of duty. Like, she came to my wedding & did my mom’s hair because mom didn’t have time to go. While she was there, she fixed the flowergirls’ hair. She would have fixed all my bridesmaids too, if she’d known ahead of time. Then she came to the house the next day to re-pin any strays before my bridal portraits. Hair is important! And I wouldn’t want her job. I was in her chair today & this lady blew in with the announcement: “I have an emergency.” I swiveled my foil-covered head her direction, looking for blood, guts, and gore. She turned her head and there it was in the form of a bad dye job & straight cut. I admire hairdressers. They deal with hysterical women, and women on the verge of hysteria all day. While standing in one spot. And perhaps while children run rampant around the salon. (I was ready to kill one with my bare hands today. Usually its quiet there….but not today). But that’s ok. Wish she would come over every morning to style it 😊
11-14-13 6:23pm
Thankful for antibacterial soap & cell phones. Both have saved me multiple times. The most notable was at Walters State…I had to palpate a cow. If you don’t know what that means, look it up. I thought I was gonna be a veterinarian until that moment. Yes, I was wearing a glove but you don’t feel very sanitary after performing that little act, so I squirted a sizable dollop of Bath & Body Works finest onto my palms & some of the guys thought it was just sooooo hilarious & were gettin me down the road~as always~about not being a real cowgirl because I couldn’t take a little poop (I was in up to my SHOULDER). My momma just so happened to call in the midst of all the ribbing. Cell phones were a novel thing back in ’97 so I got picked on for my phone ringing in a dairy barn, too. Meanwhile, mom is threatening to drive to Jefferson County to kick some cowboy @$$. And she would have, too. Good times. But I wouldn’t trade those days for all the apple butter in Georgia. Ain’t that right, John Larrance & Jena Miller?
11-13-13 8:31pm
Seven things.
#1) I never changed schools growing up. I was never the “new kid” till I went to college
#2) My great grandmother was a Jehovah’s witness & therefore, I was scared of God until about 6th grade when my friend Megan started inviting me to church with her. My salvation is due largely to her & her family.
#3) I hate strawberry ice cream. It gags me.
#4) I have no siblings. I still think this is wonderful.
#5) I have only owned two vehicles in my entire life.
#6) I have never been on a cruise, or out of the country, although I have been in over 30 states.
#7) I am wickedly stubborn.
Thankful for our little cozy house. It is just right for the two of us & our furry 4-legged children. It’s not new (by a long shot) but I know it is well built & sturdy. I’ve rode out many a storm in the basement. If it was much bigger, I wouldn’t be able to keep it clean, anyway. Thankful for a place to call home.
Of course I’m gonna be thankful for our veterans today. And of course I’m gonna have a story to go with it.
There was this crotchety old grumpy man that shopped at the store for as long as I can remember. Nothing special to set him apart, other than his strong Northern accent…which I will admit, made me dislike him even more.
As the years passed, instead of getting grouchier like most people do, he began to become warmer towards us, occasionally cracking a smile or tell us to have a nice day. Then he started bringing us cakes & sweets from the Food Lion across the street. A major transformation from such an irritable old man.
A few months after my wedding, I realized I hadn’t seen him in awhile. I asked a coworker that I knew would remember him, & he told me he had passed away back in the spring. I was astounded, & disappointed in myself that it had taken me so long to miss him. I went to the computer & pulled up his obituary. As I read it, I was overwhemed by what a fulfilling life he had lived. I hope that mine will be half as honorable:
…”he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII fighting U-boats from a blimp…he worked for International Harvester as a tool & die maker…he worked for the Catholic Diocese of Joliet…he was a Volunteer Fireman with a rank of Captain…he was an avid scout master…he was a lifelong member of the NRA…he enjoyed fishing, hunting, & tinkering in his shop where he proved a master of invention & creativity…he volunteered at the food ministry…he was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two brothers & seven sisters…survivors include a brother, seven grandchildren & eleven grandchildren…”
And thats one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. And I didn’t know him at all. Happy Veterans Day Mr. Walt. I’ve been wanting to write a tribute to him for quite some time, he’s been on my mind a lot. Today was a good one for that. And Happy Veterans Day to all my friends who served, I’m glad you made it home safe. Thank you for your service.
11-11-13 9:29pm
I waited on him WEEKLY for YEARS. I guess one of his kids wrote it, it was really enthralling. Also, in lieu of flowers, he wanted donations to be made to the Sevier County Food Ministries or the local humane society. I thought he hated pets.
I thought he hated everything.
I was so wrong.
Veterans Day: the 11th day of thankfulness. I am thankful to those currently enlisted, those who served, all their families, & those who wanted to serve & couldn’t. We are in your debt. I think of this often: several years ago (probably around 10) my mom, grandmother, & I were all sitting on the porch breaking beans. Mom was saying she had heard on the news there was a shortage of soldiers & they were talking about what would have to happen if more people didn’t start joining the military soon. Evidently the word draft had come up. So mom spouts off that I had better hurry up & have a kid or I could be drafted. Grandmother & I both stopped to stare at her like she had lobsters crawling out of her ears. “Jody, do you not know your daughter at ALL? I’m sure she would much rather go fight in war than raise a baby!” I sure would! The thought of a child STILL terrifies me. Not that war doesn’t, mind you. But thankful to those men & women who step out every day, forsaking everyone & everything familiar & loved to fight for our country. Our freedom. Our HOME. Thank you.
“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, The other died for your freedom.”
11-11-12 12:03
Today I’m thankful for a sense of humor. Mine AND everybody else’s. I laugh at the dumbest stuff. I love corny jokes. I enjoy looking at pictures of cat antics & videos of dogs. I crack up at the most inappropriate times. It makes the days go by faster. And I’m proud of my laugh lines-the same ones that my Clinique girl struggles to understand why I don’t care about smoothing. Laughter IS contagious. I will leave you with a few illustrations:
Me, behind the counter at work, to customer walking in: “Hello.”~with a WINNING smile, of course.
“Grass seed?”
“Curtains?”
“Grass seed?”
“Pineapples?”
At this point, they generally smile like I’m either a volunteer who escaped from the mental ward, catch onto my joke & laugh & say hello like a normal conversation, or frown & explain that they’re looking for grass seed (or the bathroom, usually). Its a lot of fun.
Yesterday, Lisa was over here visiting & she took one of those dreaded “selfies” of us. In our defense, Johnny was entertaining the munchkins outside.
Lisa: “You’ll hafta tag yourself, I can’t tag on my phone.”
Me: “What? Surely…”
Lisa: “No, look…how do I do it?”
I tap on the picture to make it big &…
Lisa: “…tag photo?…Ohhh…shut up!”
Me, laughing hysterically. In an effort to shut me up-
Lisa: “You weren’t thankful for anything yesterday.”
“Yes I was!!!”
“No, you weren’t. I looked again today.”
“Yes I was!”-frantically calling up my facebook on my phone. “Right here, that I can read!”
Lisa: “Oh, I just saw you shared a link. I didn’t read it.”
Me: “Thanks a lot, some best friend you are.”
Lisa: “But I liked it!”
Me: “No you didn’t!!!”
Lisa: “What????…well I meant to. Here, I’ll like it… There. So, what are you gonna be thankful for today?”
Me, bending over dying laughing: “I already was. My crockpot!”
Lisa: “No, I just checked it, it’s not on here.”
“Lisa. Look. Right there. Do you need facebook for dummies?”
“I think so. Ok, I’m liking it too.”
And we raffed& raffed…<3 my bestie. Her thankful day is coming the 28th.
Thankful for my crockpot today & every day. Especially thankful for it since our oven officially gave up the ghost last week. But the crockpot is awesome, regardless. Gives me time on my day off to do other stuff than worry about dinner. And on days when I work, it’s working for me 🙂 yep, I am definitely thankful for my crockpot. And I am thankful I’ve got food to put in it. Today is chili, if anyone is hungry.
