On this Thanksgiving Eve when we turn our attention from all the Christmas decorations that are already on display to focus on mounds of turkey and stuffing and green bean casserole…er, I mean, we focus on all the things we have for which we are thankful – I thought I’d share a little story that happened to me just today.
I had met some friends for lunch in Powell and we had a great time catching up with each other. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it a marathon gab session
all afternoon as they had places to go and people to see. Which sounds way fancier
than saying they had to pick up the grandkids and/or take a nap. Nevertheless,
those were still important enough tasks that they had to run.
And so did I. Because I had some errands to run myself before the end of the day. Like stop at the bank. And the gas station. And the car wash.
But before I could get to the first stop on my list, I spied with my little eagle eye the Home Goods store. Ohhh - my Happy Place. I love, love, L-O-V-E that store!
And Home Goods at Christmastime with all manner of shiny,
sparkly things? I can’t even begin to tell you how much dopamine and serotonin flood
my little brain.
So I parked and headed inside to snag a shopping cart even
though I had only an item or two on my list should they happen to have those items
in stock. With Home Goods, one can’t make any assumptions.
Except that one can always assume I will come out of
there with things I had no idea I absolutely needed. Therefore, a
shopping cart is mandatory.
Once inside, I found a plethora of shiny, sparkly things
that called to me with their siren song of shimmer and glitter, but I practiced
discretion as I no longer have the need (or desire) to decorate every square inch
of surface space in my home. And I truly do have more than enough holiday décor.
But that didn’t stop me from winding my way around every single
aisle in the store.
As I was wandering down the picture frame and candle aisle, a woman
stopped me and asked if my name was Jane.
Surprised, I said it was. Meanwhile, my dopamine- and serotonin-filled
little brain was frantically trying to place her. Did we meet recently at the
Twig Bazaar? Was she someone I met at the widow’s group meeting I’d recently attended?
Had I – God forbid – run into her car in the parking lot in
my haste to enter Home Goods and she had a friend at the BMV who told her who
owned the grey Passat with the sparkly license plate?
Evidently, she saw the gears turning because she quickly
pointed out that I didn’t know her.
Then she went on to say that she had been friends on
Facebook with Vince. Her husband was in the car business and she inadvertently
asked to be Vince’s friend. He asked her if he knew her and she explained who
her husband was. And she graciously told him he didn’t have to accept her
friend request.
But of course, he did.
And she said she just loved how idyllic our life seemed to be. That it made her heart happy that Vince loved me (“His Janie”) so much. And that we were always doing something fun and interesting – and that she enjoyed reading about our dinners out or our adventures on the trips we took.
Clearly, she knew me by the multitudes of photos Vince took
of me on every occasion – whether it was a simple meal or a fancy wedding or a once-in-a-lifetime
trip.
And then she told me how truly sorry she was that he had passed.
I cannot begin to tell you how much it meant that she stopped me. She even said she was not sure she should because she didn’t want to make me sad.
I told her I’m already always sad – but that I was so grateful that she did stop and talk to me. It made my heart happy that Vince had such an affect on people that someone who never even met me before recognized me in Home Goods.
If there is a list we’re compiling tomorrow on things for which
to be grateful, having had my Vince for thirteen years tops mine. And having
someone remember him to me is also incredibly special.
So however you spend your Thanksgiving holiday – eating lots
of candied yams and pumpkin pie – or watching football – or dropping a turkey
in a vat full of boiling oil – I wish you (well, besides a lot o’ luck with
both your football team and the deep-fried turkey thing), lots of love and
happiness.
And I hope you spend the day with people you love.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh, and PS. If you ever wonder if you should talk to someone
about their loved one who has passed – always, always talk to them. We yearn
to hear that others remember them and miss them, too.
