Highlight of the day...fun...both entering and exiting!!

The Christmas Tree Shoppe is a chain of stores that is not really about Christmas most of the time. It is more of a multi-seasonal presentation of neat things. I had the opportunity to explore the new treasures with a good friend. The sun was shining and it sure looked a lot like spring. For me, this was therapy...

As I approached the entrance to the store, a car pulled up to let someone off at the door. The passenger was an elderly woman who struggled to get out of the front seat as the driver gave her a helpful nudge from behind for momentum.

"Need a hand?"

I reached toward her and she grabbed my hand, then my arm, and reached back to retrieve the cane that she had brought with her. We put a shopping cart in front of her, she tossed the cane into it, thanked me repeatedly, and headed inside to begin her fun. I guess the driver knew to catch up with her inside. Very refreshing!!

Well, I found many things that I could not live without..[haha], and I headed for the checkout, and to meet my shopping buddy. As the cashier [surely in her fifties] scanned the items, one of the ceramic flower pots had a small ding on the saucer part. The cashier offered to go and get a new one as I continued to put the remainder of the stuff on the counter. I was feeling kind of bad for the woman in line after me, and I began to chat with her.

"You are a very patient woman" I said smiling at her friendly eyes and very wrinkly face.

"You have to be in this day and age."

I noticed that her fingernails had glittery nail polish on them and the pointer nail had a pink daisy. I complimented her fancy nails, and she added,

"I'll bet you wouldn't guess my age!!"

Not wanting to offend her spirit in any way, I asked her to tell me.

"I am 98!"

"You are an amazing person!" I did not share that my 99 year old Mom lived with me 'cause there was no way I was going to rain on her parade.

I paid my bill, and smiled at her to say how nice it was to meet her.

She was by herself sporting blue jeans and sneakers.

After I walked out the door, I had to go back and ask her what her name was or I'd always wonder. At 98, I figured it had to be an interesting one...turn of the century-unique.

"My name is Robetta. R-O-B-E-T-T-A. My father's name was Robert and my mother's name was Etta."

She was beautiful. And a bright spot in my day. A surprise.

I guess that was the 'Christmas" part of that March play day for me.