What is that?

Shawn took me out to lunch at Olive Garden. While we were sitting, waiting for our disk to light up and tell us it was our turn to be seated, I looked over at this vent. I almost jumped when I saw it. I swear it looked to me like a little mouse looking out at me with his tail curled around. Ratatouille-like.

Shawn tells me I have a wild imagination-- but you can see it too?? Right??

Gratitude on Valentine's Day

Life ebs and flows.  It is interesting to look over the course of your life and see the things that you thought mattered so much when you were younger, don't seem to be quite as big of a deal now. And then other things that weren't such a big deal before are now paramount.

Last week I was waiting to have my oil changed at a place we have been going for the last 18 years.  It is a small garage, run by family.  They do good quality work.  It reminds me quite a bit of going with my dad to Ray's -- a repair shop in Denver.  The workers are humble, fair and friendly, they don't decorate their shop--they work on cars.  The waiting area has a small heater to keep the clientele warm, and is functional --probably "decorated" about 30 years ago.  Now the room is worn and dirty albeit adequate for the occasional waiting client.

As I sat and chatted with one of the workers that we have known for years, a lady dressed in an over-sized mismatched t-shirt, and ripped ill fitting jeans came into the shop, announcing that she finally had some money to help pay off her bill. (Considering it was 30 degrees outside, she was under dressed for comfort.) The owner came from the backroom, totaled what seemed like 5-6 invoices, and showed her the total.  She didn't look surprised, but saddened.  She handed him a wad of cash and admitted she didn't have enough and would have to come back when she got paid again.  Before she could say another word the owner said "Oh I forgot to give you the discount for our regulars."  Promptly discounting her bill and giving her back $20, he pronounced "That settles everything. Thanks for your business."

My first thought was "wait a minute!  I come here all the time, with every car we have--for the last 18 years!  I have never heard of the "regular discount".  But as she waved goodbye and expressed her gratitude,  I glanced at the owner who quietly marked the bills and disappeared again into the back room.  Wait.  I think as it begins to dawn on me.  There is no regular discount.  He just took a loss to help that lady.

As I have processed this experience over the past week, I have become so grateful for the life and challenges I have been given.  No life is without them.

There Was An Old Lady, By Gavin

As a writing assignment Gavin had to fill in the blanks in the traditional story about the old lady who swallowed a fly. It started out normally enough. (Words that Gavin inserted into the blanks are bolded.)

There was an old giant who swallowed a desk. I don't know why he swallowed a desk perhaps he'll rest.

I know an old giant who swallowed a Jasmine (girl that sits next to Gavin and often bothers him). He swallowed the Jasmine to eat the desk. I don't know why he swallowed the desk, I guess he'll rest.

I know an old giant who swallowed a sharpener to help the Jasmine write on the desk. I don't know why he swallowed a desk, I guess he'll rest.

I know an old giant who swallowed a pencil, to sharpen and write on the desk, perhaps he'll rest.

.....and the story continues pretty normally.

After his teacher reads the story there is a note highlighting Jasmine's name.  "Gavin this is not okay."

Gavin then re-does the assignment.  He crosses out Jasmine's name and inserts Gavin in the blanks where her name was.

When I ask him about it he says "Yeah, my teacher didn't like it.  But I thought it would be cool to be in the stomach of a giant, and of course I would get out before he dies."

 "Really."  I respond. "How would you do that?"

"Yeah, you see, the pencil is actually a weapon. If you touch the little hanging thing in the back of the giants mouth, he would automatically throw me back up."