Sweet Strangers

Today I'm going to do things a little out of my norm--no pictures, no recipes, no Eli funnies--I'm just going to tell you a story.  Sometimes I'm struck by the little things in day to day life.  The little, usually unexpected, things can unnerve me or touch me more than the big things that are anticipated. 

In a normal week, Monday is grocery shopping day (at Wal-Mart, yikes).  On Mondays, Eli and I head out on our adventure.  We have a lunch date then head into the dreaded Wal-Mart.  (Side tangent:  I loathe Wal-Mart, but it's so stinking cheap and they have EVERYTHING.  Therefore, I do it anyway.  That is also why it's become the monster that it is.)  Anyway, McDonalds is our normal lunch spot, but today I really wanted Captain D's.  We've done Captain D's a time or two before, but it's in the scary part of town with our Wal-Mart.  I usually avoid it, even though I love it. 

I saw posted that they are running a special on my favorite, so we decided to brave it today.  We went in (expecting the worst, to be quite honest).  However, there was only one visible employee, and she was singing her heart out with the radio.  Although this wasn't exactly professional, one must be fairly happy to sing that way.  We got up to the counter to order, and she handed Eli a pack of fruit snacks, chased after the ball he threw, started calling him by name and chatting with him.  She was so friendly!  She proceeded to let Eli pick our table while she followed and carried our tray to our table so I could go get a high chair.  (Yes, he was in my line of vision the entire time.)  I have NEVER gotten this type of service at a fast food restaurant.  She was fabulous!

I noticed there was only one other table occupied in the entire restaurant.  At that table sat two little old men wearing hats that labeled them as veterans.  Eli took an instant liking to them and started talking their ears off.  They ate it up and chatted with us the entire time we were there.  They got excited that Eli prayed with me then shouted "amen."  One of them came over and pulled a $1. bill out of Eli's ear and told him to get something fun with it at Wal-Mart.  (We had just discussed that they were headed to the VA, and we were headed to Wal-Mart.) 

I asked them in which brach of the military they had served.  Both were army men who fought in Vietnam.  I thanked them for all they did for us.  I have a solid belief that we should thank our veterans every opportunity we have.  They have sacrificed so much for us, for our country, for our freedom.  The least we can do is give a "thank you" in return. 

As we were preparing to leave, I got down and picked up the food Eli had dropped/thrown on the floor.  The employee from the front counter came over and teased me about doing her job.  I told her it's only common courtesy to clean up our mess.  As I gathered our trash onto the tray to throw away, she told me about her four grandbabies, and she gets to see them on Sunday--her day off.   I threw away our trash and put away the high chair.  My new friends (the veterans) thanked me for being thoughtful and cleaning up our mess, then they proceeded to say that not many young people think to do such things anymore. 

Again, it's common courtesy to pick up one's own mess.  Does our generation really leave messes all the time?  Are we really that thoughtless?  If that's the case, we need to pick up the slack and get our rears in gear.  Each of us are a representative of this generation.  How do we want others to see us?  What can we do to improve that image?

Moving on along...as we headed out, they asked me questions about the baby on the way.  They asked why we do ultrasounds now, and if it was all for genetic screening.  I explained that I'm just nosy and like to get a sneak peek.  They are used for some screening, but it doesn't make a difference what is found--it's not like we'd terminate (or really do anything differently) regardless. They agreed with this viewpoint.  They complimented Eli on his pleasant demeanor and good behavior.  Then they told us they enjoyed lunching with us and that they're there every Monday from 11:15-1:00 before their standing appointments at the VA.  As we were discussing it, the employee from the front counter said she's also there every Monday at that time. 

I think Eli and I might have to go back and lunch with them again.  It was such a blessing to encounter such sweet strangers!

Lingering thought of the day:  Eli has about one hour left of his nap.  I've been debating all day over whether to sew or reorganize my closet.  Decisions, decisions...