Stories

Picking up a few provisions at the grocery store and run into a gentleman on aisle 5. He smiled a big ol’ Texas smile. “Nice to meet someone like me,” he confides to me. You can guess why we are kindred souls, besides the Texas connection. Another gentleman walks by, a kindred soul as well. We have our own little club.

 

People are waking.

 

Concrete is being poured for the new bridge over the Snake. Which means inevitable traffic delays, extended delays. So, I do what makes me happy, roll my window down and learn about the nice lady holding the slow your roll sign.

 

“Say, when will they be laying asphalt?”

 

Once they finish the bridge, four or five days.

 

HALLELUJAH.

 

I was afraid another winter of sketchy roads may be in store, if they didn’t start pickin’ ‘em up and puttin’ ‘em down.

 

“Are you from around here?”

 

Nope, Big Piney she tells me.

 

“Do you stay here during the week?”

 

Nope. Two hundred round mile trip. Every. Day.

 

Holy cow.

 

Two hundred miles to stand in the sun. Or rain. Whatever each day brings this time of year.

 

All. Day.

 

“Do you have benefits?”

 

No. The job is considered seasonal.

 

My heart.

 

This is more often the case than not these days.

 

Hard working Americans.

 

While some have sat on their collective tushies collecting unemployment, others are driving forever to make a living.

 

I need to find treats to drop off to her now and again.

 

It makes my day when people are kind.

 

Time to pay it forward.

 

Everyone has a story.

 

Today I was reminded how very fortunate I am, to be living a good, quiet life.