Ellena and Jan

So . . . as I was getting ready for swim class today, I noticed that it was sleeting.  Big, drippy, splattering, slushy, sleet.  I'm beginning to see a pattern of recent days . . . if it's swim class day, it's also been wet (both in and out of the pool).  No matter - I have really been absolutely loving my classes.  

The classes are one hour long, each session; and they are a combination of aerobics and total body strength training.  I am quite pleased to report that I have been seeing improvements in a variety of areas; some of them quite unexpected from when I first determined to do the classes.  For instance, my balance and coordination are improving.  For those of y'all that really know me, I'm sure you're now looking at your computer screen in utter amazement.  Close your mouths, y'all; you don't want to draw flies.

Swim class has nothing to do with neither Ellena nor Jan.  I'm just in a bit of a ramblin' mood; simultaneously coupled with the desire to write.  Y'all are the lucky recipients of both.

~*~*~*~

At a business meeting that I will be attending later in the week, it is my turn to provide lunch for everyone.  The numbers given to me were 12 and 30.  I am to feed 12 people and I will be reimbursed for up to $30.00.  Wow.  $2.50 per person?  Did we get transported back a couple of decades and I miss it?

Nevertheless, I felt I was up to the challenge.  After swim class, I set out to visit some of the locals' favorites for noontime cuisine to see what kind of deals I could finagle.  Hmmm . . . Other than some truly empathetic smiles, my project wasn't a success.  That's putting it midly.  I bombed out.  Completely.  

You know . . . I don't usually miss driving.  Yeah, there are the times when I would love to get in a car and drive around seeing the country side; either with a specific destination in mind or just to meander around to see what I can see.  That's the wanderlust that lives within me.  

Then there are times, like this week, when it would be so very wonderful to be able to drive.  If I was driving, then I could simply zip off to one of the grocery stores and lunch for 12 people on $30 wouldn't be that big of a deal; there would be myriad ways to accomplish such an assignment.  None of which are doable for a pedestrian, however.  Even more insurmountable because on the specific day of the meeting, this particular pedestrian has under an hour between another time commitment ending and the time of the lunch meeting beginning.

Sigh.

After almost 2 hours of traipsing around in periodic sleet, under grey skies, while tromping through puddles of various stages of melted snow and repeatedly hearing, "I'm sorry; I can't help you," I think I was feeling a bit dejected.  That may be a bit of an understatement.

As I was headed home to work on some projects, I was passing a bus stop.  I'll interject here to say that I rarely use the bus.  Except for the library, grocery stores and homechurch, I pretty much walk everywhere I go.  The exercise is good for me; and where I live, I'm pretty much within a 10-15 minute walk from most places that I frequent.  

~*~*~*~

I noticed a lady at the bus stop.  She had flaming red-orange hair (more red than orange).  Flaming red hair.  As I approached her, I smiled at her and said "hey"  . . . smiling, btw, helps lift a person out of a bad mood; smiling with or at another individual intensifies such accomplishment - try it sometime; it's awesome!  

It's interesting to note how people respond when a stranger smiles at them.  Sometimes I am met with a cold, silent stare.  Sometimes I'm met with a polite, timid "kinda-smile" but then the person also endeavors to not make any eye contact.

But, Sometimes!  Sometimes, I'm greeted with a very enthusiastic smile.  Ellena greeted me with such a smile.  In fact, she hopped up and came right up to me.  I seriously thought she was going to hug me.  Which would have been just fine.  She had an awesome, gorgeous smile.  Not the Hollywood type of gorgeous smile; no, no . . . Ellena had a smile that started in her heart, spread clear across her face and culminated in these fantastic sparkles that danced outwardly from her eyes.

She spent the next few minutes telling me about herself . . . She's from Italy, and has been in the States for a week, with a week more to go before she goes back home.  She's an artist; a sculptor, and we talked about the galleries she's been visiting; both here in Jackson and also some in Colorado.  She's here right now on a ski holiday . . . (I hope the weather gives her some more snow while she's still here).  Y'all should have seen her face light up when she said, "A person has not lived until they have skied Grand Targhee!"  

Ellena was absolutely wonderful.  She exuded life.  And, she probably doesn't even know what a gift she gave me . . . a stranger from Italy lifted my spirits, and just by being her and without her even knowing anything about the situation, she reminded me that the momentary stress I was feeling over this silly upcoming business lunch was simply not necessary.   As the bus was turning the corner and heading toward the bus stop, she quickly hugged me, kissed my cheek and said, "Kisses, kisses; love and kisses".  As I walked away, after a few steps, I turned back around and she enthusiastically waved to me.  I may never see her again, but I made a new friend today; and I thank Our Lord for the time Ellena and I spent together. 

~*~*~*~*

A couple of hours later after I got home, my friend Jan called.  Y'all would love Jan; her eyes also sparkle when she smiles; and often, her smile leads me to wonder what kind of delightful mischief she is planning.  She has a huge heart and great sense of fun; both qualities I find absolutely marvelous and quite endearing.  

Incidentally, Jan was my partner-in-crime back in '06, up in Sandpoint, Idaho, during the grape-stomping contest that some of y'all know about.  For those that aren't familiar with the story, she and I entered a grape-stomping contest together.  It was purely and completely spontaneous - we were zipping down the road in her vehicle and came up on an live, outdoor radio broadcast at a local winery.  We each had our own vat of grapes and we danced and stomped to, "What I like about You!," periodically pointing to each other during the song's refrain.   It's one of my favorite memories.

A few minutes into our conversation today, I told Jan about my morning.  I didn't know why I was telling her, but I was.  God Bless her . . . within minutes, she had determined a solution to my dilemma . . . if I ordered whatever I wanted to order, she would pick it up and take such food and me to the meeting.  Wow!  Is that cool or what?!  I was so wanting to not have to resort to pizza delivery, and her generous offer helped me avoid that entirely.  Thank you, Jan!  You know I think you're pretty awesome, and I just want to tell you that one more time.

So!  I bet y'all are wondering what I decided upon, aren't y'all?  You're not?  Oh.  Well, I'll tell y'all anyway . . . my business meeting compatriots will be dining this week on chilli, from one of our awesome local restaurants.  And there will be enough for even the hungriest to have their fill. 

~*~*~*~*

Our Lord is so very good.  First He gifted me with a stranger who absolutely radiated love.  Through her, Our Lord encouraged me and reminded me what's really important.  THEN, he presented me with a solution to the very situation I was stressing over to begin with . . . again through another person; this time a cherished friend.

Truly, no man is an island. 

(Or, as I told Jan today . . . it takes a village to raise a Sharon-Marie).

:)

Abundant Blessings, y'all! 

Sharon-Marie Jordan © 2010 - All rights reserved.