I didn’t really feel like going to the store. But, I conceded in my conversation with myself that it was the best and freest time I had, and I would thank myself tomorrow when I would have had to book it through the aisles that I much prefer to mosey down. Plus, I have realized more and more that I have lived life too much based on my feelings. Pandering to them, coddling them, and letting them rule the roost. Guess who least deserves the rule of the life roost? Your feelings. Those ever-changing, ever unfaithful, fickle fiends that can lead you every which way but right if one allows them total dominion. So, I am trusting the age old adage that practice makes perfect, and am tough loving myself a little bit. And yes, I consider going to grocery store when I don’t feel like it some tough love.
After said pep talk, I pushed myself out the door and minutes later I was moseying to my hearts content. I am pretty obsessed with the Trader Joe’s scene. Let’s look at this objectively:
1) They ALWAYS have free samples. Homeslice loves herself a free sample. I have shamelessly hovered on more than one occasion, wedged between the tiny coffee cups at the coffee station and the sample bar waiting for a new batch of whatever-they-happen-to-be-samplings to make their appearance (see here for proof).
So 5 shooting star points.
2) Their milk is so very cheap. And yes, in the past, that has caused some precarious situations (see here for photo details) in the fridge, but it was nothing our excessive collection of jars could not remedy. That gives them 4 red balloons (i drink a lot o’ milk)
3) The wine station. They sample wine, I believe, almost daily. And the wine guy knows me. Last time I was there he was all “I am not going to card her (as in me) because I know her, but I need to see your I.D.” (to the other chick doing some friday samplage). I was, suffice it to say, preeetty glad about this. I enjoy being a regular.
4 ½ horseshoes points for that.
addendum: I took these pictures today and as I was moseying about, the wine sampler guy saw me (different guy) and came over to tell me that it’s against rules to take photos but if I took some free roses he would overlook it this time. Come again? If I take some free roses??? Yep, the going rate for breaking the rules in Trader Joe’s is free leftover Valentine’s Roses for you and your co-shopper. I think that just earned them 7 pots o’ gold.
4) The employees. They are super friendly (see addendum above for details). Like big time. It cheers me up almost every time at the check out station to have such cheerful folks scanning my foods.
5 hearts and 3 clovers points. (I hope y’all have picked up the lucky charms theme going on in my point system)
BONUS ROUND: They played *NSYNC Christmas songs during that jovial season. Some dancing and some singing aloud ensued as I mosied, that much is obvious. 4 blue moons awarded for excellent musical snacking in the aisles.
Ella and I agree: Freeze-dried-rainbow marshmallow points all around, Trader Joe’s.
At said wine tasting station, I really enjoyed the moment when the wine guy (who knows me) was trying to entice people to come sample (weird that he had to do that, right?) the guy who answered the all-call, as if to make an excuse for why he would be sampling wine at 5:00 PM, said “it’s Friday, right?”. In my head I said something to the effect of HECK YES IT IS. And it made me feel really good that someone else was feeling that completely unique Friday feeling. The undeniable realization in your very bones that weekend is ahoy and come what may, it will be organically other than week. Just for the sheer fact that whatever happens happened somewhere over the weekend.
The magical weekend which stretches like a sparkling rainbow road before us. The one we will color in ourselves with however we choose to spend it. The one we will talk about to our co-workers/classmates/friends/neighbors on Monday when the inevitable water cooler/locker/text/coffee talk question is posed: “So, what did you do over the weekend?”.
“What will our answer be?” is the magic that Friday brings. We don’t know yet, and that my friends, that is a sweet sweet feeling. The weekend is still a veritable mystery package waiting for our hands that hold our Saturday morning coffee and Sunday evening drink o’ choice to unwrap.
It’s Friday, and I can tell you that though I know not what the future holds, I know the Beloved Savior has me (and you and you and you) in the palm of His hand, and is waiting to bless you with whatever comes your way this weekend.
In any situation, He is already there. If you are working on Saturday (been there done that and i feel your pain), He is there holding out your favorite cup of coffee and His Heart to hide you within and help you through it. If you are exhausted from the week, or your kids (or you) are sick or just a little wild n’ crazy, He is in the breakfast that gives you a little more energy, or the snuggle your little one gives you, or the blankets that help ward off the chills. He is always there. Just ask and you shall receive.
Today, for instance, Friday was its’ name and unexpected blessings was its’ game.
First off, it is basically the opposite weather of last Friday. It was an open door, sidewalk chalk kind of Friday.
Ella and I took our show on the road because we had to be out in the Friday glory. First stop: a visit to Jesus to offer the day and some gratitude for His Goodness. 2nd stop: Silver Diner for a gluten free brownie because, as the guy at the wine tasting station put it so aptly last week, “why not? it’s friday, right?”.
Onward and upward we went for some Trader Joe’s and a couple of bouquets of God’s Love in the tangible, smellable form of blooming roses.
Then I found out at the dry cleaners via a most welcome text that one of my old roomies during Grad school, and coincidentally one of the most beautiful, radiating Christ’s Love people I have ever met, is engaged to be married.
If that’s not some fine weekend flavored news, I don’t know what is. It tasted like a mimosa on a sunny Resurrection Day morning after Mass when all is sparkly and joy of the Risen Christ is fresh in our minds and hearts.
Be prepared for the best darn weekend of your life. Expect the unexpected. Like bright purple flower bowls brimming over with February sunshine and warmth.
And if it’s not the best weekend of your life? If it’s one of the most difficult? He is there. He holds you even closer in the suffering and sorrows of life. So close that sometimes you can no longer see His face, but He is there. Never changing, ever-faithful, our Beloved Savior and best of friends.
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| Bring it, weekend! |
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