A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Bus Stop
I was out early this morning (as always!), for what turned about to be 6 hours of errands, including my (not so) "favourite" thing to do, boot/shoe shopping.
My winter hiking boots died!
I'd already been to the bank, Canadian Tire, Costco, Starbucks (thank god for Starbucks' non-fat dirty chai latté), Sports Chek, Dollarama, Jysk, the Shoe Company (I did find two pairs of end-of-season boots, great sale), Home Sense, Pier One, and Bed, Bath and Beyond (got a tension rod there, for my hall closet, see below, plus ANOTHER freakin' bed pillow, because I am the Goldilocks of bed pillows and my guest room is a wasteland of pillows I can't sleep on).
Closet organization with the new tension rod, to hang up my tote bags.
Anyway. Back to the story.
By this time it was noon, I'd already been on the go for 4.5 hours, I was tired and hungry, my feet hurt from clumping around in my snow boots (because my winter hikers died, see above, in case you missed that part), and I was in an absolute lather, having spent the better part of an hour in that shoe store (finding footwear for 6.5 D-width feet is labourious), plus about half an hour in Bed, Bath and Beyond, trying to make up my mind between two pillows. The tension rod was the easy part. Oh, and all my freakin' hot flashes only added to the previously mentioned hot, sweaty lather.
So, there I was, walking on the back road behind Home Depot, heading to the bus stop on a main thoroughfare. I was carrying several large bags filled with my purchases, I was bare-handed (my heavy mitts in a bag) and my coat partially unzipped. Because, you know, I was HOT, dammit! Cars drove past me per usual; I didn't pay attention, except to make sure I was safely out of their way. Then a red car came toward me and stopped, and the passenger window rolled down. It was a guy, maybe in his 50s, pleasant-looking in a scattered, disheveled way. He actually had driven past me, turned around and come back. He offered me a drive home because I was "carrying a lot of bags," and then he seemed to sigh with exasperation, as if I must be stupid or intellectually challenged, and added that I didn't have any gloves.
!!!
I thanked him, said that was very kind, and that I really appreciated it, but that I had to get groceries. (True, I had to stop at Farm Boy before going home.) Then, as he turned around to head back the way he intended, I called out, "I DO have gloves!" I didn't bother explaining that I'm a middle-aged woman dealing with fluctuating internal temperatures and that I'd already been into a zillion stores, plus had endured the ordeal of the boots. Or that I certainly wouldn't accept a ride from an unknown man.
By this time it was noon, I'd already been on the go for 4.5 hours, I was tired and hungry, my feet hurt from clumping around in my snow boots (because my winter hikers died, see above, in case you missed that part), and I was in an absolute lather, having spent the better part of an hour in that shoe store (finding footwear for 6.5 D-width feet is labourious), plus about half an hour in Bed, Bath and Beyond, trying to make up my mind between two pillows. The tension rod was the easy part. Oh, and all my freakin' hot flashes only added to the previously mentioned hot, sweaty lather.
So, there I was, walking on the back road behind Home Depot, heading to the bus stop on a main thoroughfare. I was carrying several large bags filled with my purchases, I was bare-handed (my heavy mitts in a bag) and my coat partially unzipped. Because, you know, I was HOT, dammit! Cars drove past me per usual; I didn't pay attention, except to make sure I was safely out of their way. Then a red car came toward me and stopped, and the passenger window rolled down. It was a guy, maybe in his 50s, pleasant-looking in a scattered, disheveled way. He actually had driven past me, turned around and come back. He offered me a drive home because I was "carrying a lot of bags," and then he seemed to sigh with exasperation, as if I must be stupid or intellectually challenged, and added that I didn't have any gloves.
!!!
I thanked him, said that was very kind, and that I really appreciated it, but that I had to get groceries. (True, I had to stop at Farm Boy before going home.) Then, as he turned around to head back the way he intended, I called out, "I DO have gloves!" I didn't bother explaining that I'm a middle-aged woman dealing with fluctuating internal temperatures and that I'd already been into a zillion stores, plus had endured the ordeal of the boots. Or that I certainly wouldn't accept a ride from an unknown man.
Morning sky
Anyway, it WAS kind, and I DID appreciate it. I'm quite sure he didn't have any ill intent, that he genuinely felt compelled to offer help, which is rare. I think there have been only a handful of times over the years that complete strangers have stopped to offer me rides home, certainly not more than half a dozen times, and only twice that I accepted. (Both times the offers were from older women.)
So that was my "funny" story, though perhaps it's only funny (to me) because of his facial expression and sigh when he added that I didn't have any gloves. I guess you had to be there! :-)
So that was my "funny" story, though perhaps it's only funny (to me) because of his facial expression and sigh when he added that I didn't have any gloves. I guess you had to be there! :-)
I hope you're having a funny, or at least interesting, weekend too!
Peace.
Comments
It was definitely nice of the driver to offer a ride, but I had to laugh at your description of his response.
Have a great rest of the weekend!
I hope you were able to get home and put your feet up.
Kim - having your totes hung up that way - does it mean you have to take the rod down when you want to grab one?
2. Caffeine + sugar
Holy smokes, yourt old hikers are definitely done. Hooray for getting a good deal on some new ones at the Shoe Company.
Hope you and the boys are doing well. Hugs!
Love the 'hack' on hanging your totes on tension rod. I like that idea and may use it in my closet!
That was very nice of the man, and funny his sigh over you not having the sense to wear your gloves on such a cold day. :)
To put in perspective, my after-work commute home takes almost a full hour. It's 10 minutes or less by car. Fifteen if traffic is heavy. Big difference. Of course, there's a big difference in the cost of my monthly bus pass versus all the costs associated with owning one's own vehicle!
As for the Good Samaritan, I hope the Universe returns his kindness (to him) in abundance!
asking if we though nicki or derry, had had a good chew on your shoe !! :) ♥♥
LOL re: N & D chewing on the shoe. They'll go for the laces on my footwear, but that's about it.