Making Christmas for a stranger...
I hope I don't come across as boasting, because I really did not do this to seek attention. But I have to share the coolest day that I had today. All thanks to Comerica bank, and their grand opening raffle.
A couple of weeks ago I attended a grand opening for a local bank. I won an ipod shuffle in a raffle/drawing. All of us in the running family have ipods already, so I knew I wouldn't keep it. But selling it seemed greedy somehow, and I just had an overwhelming feeling like I needed to find someone who really deserved a nice Christmas.
So I have been carrying the little box around in my purse for over a week, waiting for that person to come into my life.
Today I was in fresh and easy - my fave grocery store- and an older woman and gentleman came by me. She exclaimed how good the prices were. I've been told that I can make best friends w/ people in the elevator, So it's not a surprise that I started chatting w/them. The gentleman mentioned that they go to Saint Marys food bank every other week and pick up a box of food, and how hard it is to afford food on social security. The woman was talking about making her Christmas eve Lasagne, and was just the sweetest person. I gave them some extra money saving tips for fresh and easy, and she thanked me. We kept crossing paths, as the store is not very big, and everytime we would pause to chat about an item, or some little thing.
I found myself right across from her when we were checking out. At F&E it's a self checkout, so we were chatting as we scanned our items. I asked her if she was ready for Christmas, and mentioned that we have no family in the area so it's a cinch for me. She said that she has a grown son who was in construction, but lost his job and had to move back w/her. She is trying to help him, but social security alone doesn't go far. So I asked how old he was (27) and then I asked if he had an ipod, or mp3 player. She said "no, but he did hint that he wanted one. But I looked at them at Wal Mart and I just can't afford one".
So I reached into my purse, pulled out the ipod and said "here, give this to him. I won it in a raffle, but I already have one, so I have been looking for someone to give it to." She looked absolutely SHOCKED! :) SHe looked at the box, and then looked around- probably thinking it was a set up or something. I then told her "it's brand new, still sealed in the case. Like I said, I won it. " She gave me a HUGE hug and thanked me. The fresh and easy employees looked stunned. I'm a regular there, so they know me.
When I walked out she was waiting for me to get my name, and thank me again.
So hopefully Joanne and her son have a Very Merry Christmas! And I hope all of you who "do Christmas" have a very merry one as well!!
(I drove home in a massive storm, and could barely keep the van on the road it was so windy, but I had a huge smile on my face, and a warm fuzzy in my heart.)
