Oh, Those Shoes!
About a month ago, I was able to celebrate the 50th birthday of a good friend with a trip to Des Moines, involving some shopping. I took advantage of a sale at the Asics outlet store, and purchased two pairs of running shoes – a purchase I make annually. The theory behind two pairs of shoes is this: I figure it’s less wear and tear on a pair of shoes if I rotate them every week. Not sure if there is any science to back this, but it works for me. What made this purchase different was that I typically buy my running shoes online. I know the brand, style, and size; buying them online has worked well for me for some time. I decided to break tradition and buy them on site.
When I returned home from the birthday get-away, I realized that I had bought the wrong size – they were each 1/2 a size too small. What was I thinking??? I did try them on, but I was wearing extra thin socks, so they felt just right. Upon calling the Asics store to see if I could mail them back for an exchange or a refund, I was disappointed to learn that the return had to be done in-person.
Fast forward three weeks, and Bill uncharacteristically (like, completely out of character!) suggested that we make a little get-away out of returning the shoes. Friday night after school, away we went to Des Moines to return/exchange said shoes. When we reached the other side of Ottumwa (about an hour-and-a-half from home), and after a contentious phone call with the credit card company about a completely different matter, I looked at Bill and said, “Where are the shoes?” Yep – I left the shoes at home. As this realization sunk in, I proceeded to throw a full-on adult fit, complete with cussing, screaming, and hitting the dashboard. Bill calmly called Emmett and told him to grab the shoes, start driving, and we’d meet him to intercept the shoes. In the end, all worked out well – we had a terrific night away, the shoes were exchanged for the right size, and I got TEN DOLLARS back because the Asics store was running a bigger sale than three weeks ago! All worth it, right Bill???!!!
The point of this story? There are many, and they all boil down to gratitude. I’m grateful for: Bill’s offer to make a fun time out of the shoe return, his patience with my error, his ability to bring humor to the situation through merciless teasing, and that he maintained calm while I lost my s*$!; I’m grateful that Emmett was able to meet us with the shoes, so that we didn’t have to drive all the way back home; I’m grateful that throwing adult fits is generally not my first go-to; I’m grateful for my ability to run… like really, truly grateful for this every day; I’m grateful that I can afford those shoes… and TWO trips to get them; I’m grateful that I have something to giggle about each morning when I lace those shoes up!
A Heap of Gratitude
November is that month when we are reminded to express gratitude. For those who don’t already do so, might I suggest practicing gratitude year round, every day, rather than waiting until the Thanksgiving holiday in November? 🙂
I am overcome with gratitude for the time spent with family this past weekend. I am so grateful to my parents, Reed and Sue Haeger, who have been a model of what marriage can be, far from perfect but filled with love and mutual respect. In addition to providing that marriage model, our parents provided a unique and “non-traditional” model of parenting in that their approach was “hands-off” with loads of independence and a bit of guidance from the side, yet filled with love and mutual respect. Let’s just say that attendance at our school and sporting events was spotty, to say the least. The four of us are raising our kids with some sprinkling of that “hands-off” approach, and it seems to have worked. The kids are doing mighty fine.
During one of many treasured conversations over the weekend, my sisters and I arrived at a description of what makes this family work, and what keeps us close: our parents have set the tone. That tone involves the afore mentioned love and respect, as well as acceptance and appreciation of all. It is a tone that has forged a bond in their children and in their grandchildren – those kids are a tight-knit group. The way we carry ourselves, the way our children carry themselves, and the way their children will carry themselves, is a direct reflection of Reed and Sue.
Our parents have owned and operated the Corner Tap, a.k.a. Grandma’s Store, for 38 years. It is within the walls of this building that we learned so many lessons: love in the form of Dad coming home from work and walking around the bar to kiss Mom, who was just starting her evening of work; the hard work that goes into running a business: late hours, bookkeeping, loading coolers, carrying ice in, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning; acceptance and appreciation of the host of personalities represented by all of their customers. We learned what it means to respect the hearts and minds of factory workers, construction and concrete workers, musicians, US service members, teachers, bankers, beer distributors, mechanics, insurance representatives, and business owners. We learned what it is to create friendships with a wide variety of people, and what it is to lose people who have become as cherished as family members.
As the inevitable letdown of the close of the Thanksgiving holiday settles in, I am grateful that we have these cherished memories to reflect on and celebrate. Thank you for the tone, Mom and Dad. You are an inspiration like none other.
Katie
Love. Thank you articulating the true blessing of our family Megan.