Do you ever really think ahead when you pick out a t-shirt? So yesterday, I needed to run a couple of errands, and then come home to plant some things. It was humid & sticky outside, so I wanted something dry-fit. I chose my red USAF Marathon shirt, mainly because it actually fit, but also because it went well with the black shorts I was wearing. Nothing cosmic, just trying not to clash... except for my hot pink purse. That clashed horribly. Oh well. I wasn't planning on being photographed by any paparazzi, so it was okay just this once. LOL! Long story short, I picked the shirt because it was comfortable.So I got to Fresh Thyme, a "good for you" grocery store. I was there last week & purchased a mint plant, because I love me some mint tea in the summer! I noticed that they also had other herb plants, but didn't really need them, so thought if they were still on my mind, I'd come back another time. Well, I kept thinking about them, so I got a Thyme, Rosemary, and Basil plant. I'm envisioning cooking with fresh herbs and my kitchen smelling like a slice of heaven. The reality will probably be me carrying out dead plants due to neglect, but a girl can dream, right?
I get to the check-out area, and the cashier, Elaina, strikes up a conversation about my USAF Marathon shirt. She asked what I enjoyed most about that particular race. I had to stop and think because it has been quite a few years since I've actually run that very race. But I came back with "The course! It is by far, my favorite race course I've done to date." Then she asked why? "Well, it's not as crowded as the Indy Mini Marathon, it has hills (even though I secretly hate going UP those hills... going down is a nice respite), the base, airplanes, and camaraderie! My husband is in the Air Force, and it's a race we enjoy doing together." She seemed genuinely interested, and stated that she'll have to look into doing that race! She also asked me to thank my husband for his service. Now, she could've easily NOT made conversation, or just said general pleasantries, but I have to say that I was delighted with the conversation. I had left my house completely frustrated, and wasn't in a great mood. She didn't know that, but it totally turned my day around. I hope she realized what a few kind words did for me, and for taking interest in something that I once enjoyed. It got me thinking that maybe, just maybe, I should set a goal to do another half-marathon someday. Someday.
I walked out to my car with a little more spring in my step than before. Then I headed to my next stop, Menards, a midwest hardware-one-stop-shop store. I needed some lightbulbs, potting soil, a pot, and y'know, whatever else caught my eye. I had most of what I needed, and was headed out to the gardening area to get my gardening stuff when an older gentleman employee named Jeff stopped & said "What made you decide to do the Air Force Marathon? Where did you go to do it?" It sort of took me a minute... why are people so interested in this shirt? I told him that I actually did the half-marathon, and that I did it with my husband because he's in the Air Force, and that we did the race over in Dayton, OH, at Wright-Patterson AFB. He immediately said "Please tell your husband 'thank you for your service'", to which I said that I would definitely pass that along -- always happy to do that! He then said "You & I should be really good friends. I happen to love the military, and all things airplanes... except I'm scared to fly." Then he went on to tell me that his dad loved jumping out of airplanes, and how they used to spend time together going to air shows, and learning about different planes. He asked lots of questions, and I was so happy to have made a new friend, albeit in the middle of the aisle with fencing and decking materials. He asked me if I had a few minutes for another story, to which I said "of course! I have nowhere to be." So we stood & talked some more. He finished with his story & said he should get back to work, so off we went. On my way back from the gardening area, we passed each other again, and he stopped to tell me a cheesy joke... and I wish I could remember it (I'm horrible with jokes), but it made me giggle. I told him I was really thankful to have met him, and he said the same.
I left my errands with a renewed sense of community. You see, we don't live in an area where military families are prominent. The base where my husband flies out of is an hour away from where we live, and most people don't really even realize it's there. I guess I appreciated these two people because they genuinely supported our military, and our family. But they also seemed genuinely interested in something that I once loved, and it gave me the opportunity to share that love with them.
I'm not even really sure what the point is to this story, but I felt compelled to share. Sometimes things catch you off-guard, like the conversation about my shirt, but lead you to meet new people, and to share part of your story. These two people changed the outlook of my day. Maybe the big man upstairs knew I needed that. Who knows. All I do know is that I was grateful for the adult conversation, and for the opportunity to know there is still good in the world.
