Don’t Get Your Knickers in a Knot

You never know what can happen.

Today started like any ordinary day, but as time went on, it was anything but. I saw the beauty and ugliness of people I encountered. How I reacted to them is what set the hours apart.

Because of his liver transplant, my husband, Ed, needed to get to the lab for bloodwork. Currently, he goes once a month. Today was that day. Ed would tell you I was a gem for taking him, but can you receive kudos if you grumble the entire way?

I complained about the early hour, the cold, and I hadn’t yet had coffee. I added that today was supposed to be my “down day,” and I wanted to get in and out, then head home. Ed smiled at my antics. He was used to my Saturday morning shenanigans. He knew nothing pleased me more than to help him in any way I could, so all my hemming and hawing were entirely for show.

When we arrived at the gas station, Ed went to get the coffees while I filled up the tank. $80.00 in total — the amount was absurd, but I knew it’s better to keep a full tank during the cold winter months than to run out and become stranded.

When a storm hits without warning, drivers are best when prepared.

We drove one block to the clinic, and I thanked Ed for the coffee. I found a spot in the parking lot. Then I listened to music while settling in. I knew Ed would be quick, but he wasn’t fast enough today. A dog in a nearby car began howling. My heart broke at his obvious distress, and I wondered if he was cold.

Already unsettled, I watched as cars came into the lot and left. It was a hectic morning. Then she arrived. I didn’t know her, but I watched the lady as she pulled her car into what I can only assume she thought was a spot. The nose of her car jutted far out into the car park, leaving only a narrow space for vehicles to pass through if they positioned themselves at the right angle.

Indeed, she was planning on idling, right?

Nope, she put her car in park and bounced on her way. I watched as cars came at me for the next while, only to make quick adjustments around her front end to avoid hitting me. My anxiety increased tenfold — my anger brimming all the while.

I kept looking at the clock in the hopes Ed would come so we could leave. No such luck. His appointment was mere moments away, and they rarely took him early. So there I was, serenaded by a sad puppy and praying nobody got stuck or hit me while they tried to steer clear of the wayward car.

By the time Ed came back, adrenaline had consumed me. His reaction to the lady’s parking mirrored my own, which only added fuel to the fire.

I couldn’t get out of the parking lot fast enough as I listened to Ed admit he would have confronted the selfish woman as soon as she parked. I wasn’t sure if I did best by keeping quiet or was a patsy for not standing up.

With Ed’s bloodwork done, we ventured on our way to tackle the rest of our chores.

After purchasing a new cat tree, Ed left me in the McDonald’s parking lot to pick up medications from two local drug stores. I went into the restaurant to use their restroom and order my favourite muffin — but they were out. So, I switched my craving for sweets and decided on something salty. The cashier shook her head when I ordered small fries. They weren’t serving lunch yet; I’d need to wait fifteen more minutes.

Frustration crept in. My morning wasn’t improving.

As I sat in my car, I noticed an SUV come into the parking lot. Unfortunately, the driver parked alongside a snowbank blocking part of the lot, despite many available parking spots he could have used.

It was sheer laziness. It’s not so much that the driver was creating hardship for anybody, but I couldn’t help feeling his selfishness was rude.

Was my nosiness any less offensive? Maybe not.

Eleven o’clock came, I got my fries, and Ed returned with the meds before the man ever returned to his car. I left the parking lot in better spirits — the result of a full belly of salty goodness.

Now, there was one last stop. Then we would be homeward bound. One quick sprint into the local grocery store to pick up one Caesar and one fruit salad. Parking at the store occurred without incident, so I left Ed in the car with my purse after grabbing a handful of cash.

I added a couple of packets of meat to my cart and brought my five products to the self-checkout with my reusable bag. When I finished scanning all my purchases, I was $1.85 short. I anxiously asked the employee operating the checkout stations if I could run to my car to retrieve the extra $2.00.

That’s when my day suddenly did a quick turnaround.

The employee, a young woman, reached into her pocket and handed me a toonie. She caught me off guard. I graciously accepted it and told her I’d run to my car with the groceries and return the money momentarily. But she refused my offer, and she was adamant.

I’ve often committed random acts of kindness towards strangers, but rarely am I on the receiving end. Sometimes it’s easier to give than it is to receive.

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. A rare emotion that I couldn’t put my finger on. Why was it so difficult for me to accept graciousness from this stranger?

I didn’t know what to do until I reminded myself how good it felt to give while expecting nothing in return. So, why should I deprive this woman of that good feeling? Why should I insist I pay her back and refuse her goodwill?

Further, wasn’t I giving this woman a gift through my gratitude?

After thanking her profusely, I left the store with a skip in my step and a smile on my face.

It goes to show a day filled with anger, frustration, and nosiness can turn on a dime. Or, in this case, on a toonie.

In the grand scheme of things, nitpicking over how others carried out the course of their day was less important than focusing on the bigger picture — things like kindness, generosity, and humanity. Not even I knew what drove the others to act the way they did. I could only be responsible for my own actions and pride myself in how I acted and reacted.

I learned a thing from that employee.

You never know what life has in store. What starts poorly can end in greatness. So don’t get wrapped up in the small stuff.

Barb Dalton shares a day that left her head reeling and left me snickering.