From The Storyteller
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Hello All: Writing this story was difficult because I had so many great examples I had to choose from. I smiled a lot during the writing. Enjoy, Doug
Spring “This place has everything”: Me talking about Cottins True Value Hardware in Lawrence. I was hunting a 4” light weight spring needed to complete installing a folding door, and I’m thrilled because they have it. At last I’ve found a hardware store (Cottins) that is as good as Johnny’s in Harlingen. Yea! Which brings me to a birthday celebration 30+ years ago in a Topeka, Kansas mall. My daughter age 6 (I think) had just come out of a pre-teen jewelry store, having just spent her birthday money. Covered in “expensive rings and things” she waves her hands in the air and says, “Everything a girl could want”. Which brings me to floating on lake Texoma roughly 28 years ago; the sailboat is named Hard Candy. It’s twilight on July 4th, and the fireworks has just begun. I look at Elaine as a gentle breeze cools us and say, “It doesn’t get any better than this”. Which brings me to serving as a judge at the 2019 National Chili Cook-off. I will simply say that the different chilies that I tasted were as good as any I’ve ever had, and I have had tasted some great chili over the years. Which brings me to an observation about how we classify our good experiences. The feeling that happens when a great hardware store is discovered, a young hand is adorned with jewelry, a twilight float on a quiet lake, and eating great chili all mark times when something special has occurred. I like to think of those moments in our lives as deserving an “A+”. Which brings me to the realization that those “it doesn’t get any better than this” times are truly surprise gifts inserted into our ordinary, everyday lives. Moral: Since surprise gifts are everywhere, it pays to keep your eyes open. |