This morning I went to a Breakaway greeters breakfast at Hullabaloo Diner in Wellborn off of Wellborn. It was very tasty, and if and when my dream of having an A & M Navigators Amazing Race ever comes true, I would like Hullabaloo to be a part of it.
Speaking of dreams, I had one that I went deer hunting. Everybody was trying to get this one buck and ignoring all the does that were running around EVERYwhere. My grandpa was trying to teach me how to hunt. It was so weird.
Anyways, the Breakaway greeters had a White Elephant gift exchange. I regifted part of what I got last year at the navs Christmas party: 2 Houston Rockets figurines. It was a hit, a couple of guys kept stealing them. One guy gifted a palm pilot, which was probably the most stolen item. I ended up with a travel mug and some hot chocolate. Not a bad haul if I do say so myself.
After that, I went to Hastings to return the Chinese movies I watched last night. Both of them were awful, by the way. I sat around there for a while looking at cook books and came across a real easy recipe for roast. Struck by the thought, "Hey, this is cheap and easy. Whoa! I could make this!" I scooted on over nextdoor to HEB and got a roast to try it out. It is in the oven right now. Some other good finds at HEB today include (but aren't limited to): Gingerbread creamer (great in hot chocolate!), navel oranges for $.50 ea., red globe grapes, and an Eagle brand premium dessert kit for cookies 'n' cream fudge (which is mixed up and in the fridge right now). Again, not a bad haul.
Here is where things get interesting.
As I was walking out of HEB, a man and two women were standing by the living Christmas tree display with two full carts of groceries. The man offered $10 if I would give them a ride home. My first instinct was to ignore him completely and just keep walking to my car. But something made me stop for an instant.
Right then I had visions in my head of being directed to some remote location out of town where these strangers would cut off my head and eat my remains. Nobody would even realize I was gone until Tuesday or so, and these people could make it to Peru or something in my car by then.
On the other hand, I thought, what if these people have a genuine need? What's more, what does it speak of love in my life if I were to refuse them this small favor? It would take me maybe ten minutes to help these people out.
It was then that I decided that even if these shoppers laden with toys and milk were to in fact be bloodthirsty murderers, I would rather be the dolt that was willing to help them than the person that's too caught up in my own life to even listen to what they needed.
When is it safe to show love to people anyway? You are always having to put yourself out there, be vulnerable and exposed, to love others. This was more in a physical sense than emotionally, but really it boils down to the same thing.
All of this happened in that split second where I stopped pushing my cart. As I waffled for a few seconds, I asked him where they lived. He said it wasn't far, and I agreed to help and refused payment. They followed me to my car and loaded up their groceries. The man apologized for the inconvenience and expressed both embarrassment and gratitude. When I started up the engine and heard Bing Crosby coming through my speakers I said, "I hope you guys like Christmas music."
"Oh, we do," the man said. Then he directed me through a series of winding streets and turns before we arrived at their humble home. As they took the groceries in, the man poked his head back outside and told me, "Since you like Christmas so much, come in and see this!" Again, thoughts of my impending doom flashed before my eyes, but I walked up to the door anyway. They had set up a meager Christmas tree and decorated it quite nicely. It fit well with the house.
"It's lovely."
How often, I wonder, do I pass up people that need something I can easily give them?
I got to see Jill today and meet her friend Caitlin. Let me just say that it was amazing to get to see her again. She brightens up any day. I miss her!
