Value for the dollar

Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 10:46 am (Writing by Ear)
Tags: , ,

I made one of my infrequent pilgrimages to the laundromat the other day to wash our summer quilt in the big commercial washer. As it swished and tumbled, I went across the shopping center to that hotbed of enticement and random purchases — the dollar store. As I browsed, I heard a man say to his coworker he was going outside for a few minutes and just come get him if she needed anything. Along the way, he passed a customer wrestling with some helium balloons…”Do you need help tying those? Let me help you,” he said, postponing his break to offer a hand. “My hands don’t work so good,” she said. He laughed and agreed, “Oh I have days like that!”

I heard him several other times as I made my way up and down the aisles…pleasant, engaging, talking with everyone. When I was ready to check out, he was behind the counter. He joked with the older woman in front of me, loaded up with little pocket packs of tissue. “Looks like you’re getting ready for flu season,” he said.

She explained that, no, she was doing a “project” for a local personal care home. As he rang up her dozen-plus toothbrushes and other odds and ends, he told her how nice that was and what a shame it was that so many people forget about our elderly, “Out of sight, out of mind, as they say,” he commented. “I still try to send a little something every year to the place my grandfather was in. He died 20 years ago, but they took such good care of him….” With another customer, he talked about growing up with 2 brothers and how they were always wrestling and getting into trouble. And how now he always tells them if they plan to eat Thanksgiving at mom’s, they better get there early to help her.

I left thinking, “Now there’s someone I would like to be friends with.” He was so  genuinely friendly and nice, and clearly a kind soul.

Should I mention he had a very gay-sounding voice? It’s probably what I first noticed about him. As I walked back to the laundromat to retrieve my quilt, I got to thinking how that little town (a bit north of here) wasn’t likely the most tolerant place to grow up. Yet here was someone who seemed to take life in stride and come out smiling. Who didn’t have a glamorous job, but seemed to really enjoy it. Who left someone like me thinking, “Wow, I’m sure if I dealt with the public all day, no one would walk away thinking I was the most pleasant person on earth.”

To paraphrase Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets, he made me want to be a better person. After 10 minutes of being around him.

It wasn’t what I expected when I decided to kill time that day…this gift worth far more than any dollar I could ever spend.

Never mind searching for who you are.
Search for the person you aspire to be.
~ Robert Brault

1 Comment

The gift that keeps on giving

Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 10:59 am (Writing by Ear)

I’m so excited. My bank may be giving me a present for Christmas (no wait, for “Holiday”)! They just e-mailed me!

In a few weeks, you’ll find something in your mailbox that’s sure to make your spirits bright…

Doesn’t that sound exciting! What could it be?

…— the opportunity to skip a loan payment,*…

It involves skipping?!! Skipping is a lot of fun! Oooooo, what next?

…which will put extra cash in your pockets at just the right time.

Extra CASH! In my POCKETS?!! (Not just ONE pocket, even, but multiple pockets!)

It just keeps getting better. Who doesn’t want to spread Holiday cheer instead of paying their bills on time?

Of course:

*Certain terms and conditions apply. See important offer details provided in the “You Deserve A Payment Holiday” offer you will receive via U.S. mail.

You don’t suppose interest continues to accrue in that month everyone’s skipping?

You don’t suppose they’ll just extend my payments for an extra month…?

What? Surely not.

Surely the bank’s motives are entirely based on spreading Holiday cheer and generosity.

Surely there’s no downside to this Holiday gift. (Stop calling me Shirley.)

After all, they love me. I’m a valued customer, see:

It’s our way of helping valued customers like you relax and enjoy life even more.

It’s a good thing, see:

So watch your mail because a good thing is coming your way — just another benefit of banking with [my bank].

I have the best bank ever.

Pleasure is spread through the earth
In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
~ William Wordsworth

1 Comment

My favorite word

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 2:11 pm (Writing by Ear)
Tags: ,

I share this article from the Post-Gazette for one reason only: It includes what I’ve long said is my favorite word…

Council honors owner of Steelers bar in Italy
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The owner of a bar in Italy was named honorary “ambassador plenipotentiary of the Steeler Nation” this morning by Pittsburgh City Council.

Giovanni Poggi, owner of La Botticella in Rome, said he gave the bar a Steelers theme about five years ago because Pennsylvania students were frequent patrons.

Today, the establishment is well known as a “home away from home” for Pittsburghers, Mr. Poggi, on his annual visit to Pittsburgh, said.

The bar shows Steelers games when the time difference allows and has a black-and gold, Pittsburgh decor, including university memorabilia, he said.

Mr. Poggi said he now travels to Pittsburgh once a year to visit friends. He always attends a Steelers game but has not once seen the team win.

The proclamation honoring Mr. Poggi boasts that the “Steeler Nation is mighty and vast.” Rome is one “outpost,” it said, thanking Mr. Poggi for welcoming fans “with libations that maintain the traditions of Pittsburgh hospitality in a venue decorated with Myron Cope’s mighty, mysterious and all-powerful Terrible Towel,” or as it’s known at La Botticella, the “Asciugamano Terrible.”

“I have to say, I have met a lot of great people. Grazie,” Mr. Poggi said.

Did you guess what it is?

It’s a noun, and as I just learned, an adjective.

Merriam-Webster online tells me it from circa 1656 (none of those new words for me).

It has 7 syllables. 7!

Yep, it’s “plenipotentiary: a person and especially a diplomatic agent invested with full power to transact business.”

Don’t ask me why, but I have always loved that word. And loved saying it. But of course, have never been able to say it in the context of anything other than “What’s your favorite word?” conversations.

You have those conversations, too, don’t you?

Anyway, my day is complete. So what’s your favorite word?

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night,
and a smooth road all the way to your door.
~ Irish Blessing

5 Comments

« Older entries Newer entries »