My cart was overloaded with food for my hungry chicklets. I was led to a newly opened checkout lane and was thinking that it must be my lucky day. It was as I was starting to unload my seemingly endless amount of items onto the conveyor belt that he rolled in behind me. I barely noticed him as I continued to unload. Several of my items did not ring up with the sale price, so I asked the clerk to remove them because I didn't want to hold up the other people in line. He spoke from behind me with a chipper voice, announcing "I'm not in a hurry, I have all day." I turned around to see an older man in a motorized cart smiling at me. He was wearing a thick furry hat that looked like it was made from the remains of some local critter. It was the kind of hat that would make you stand out in a crowd. I reminded him that there was a winter storm warning in effect and that the sooner we got home, the better. Then I told him that I liked his hat. "Is that mink?," I asked him. He just smiled, shook his head and said "You will never guess." Now I have never been a big fan of the guessing game, so i just shrugged my shoulders and gave him the "I give up?" look. He said, "Wellllll......my last name is spelled S-K-U-N-K!" "NO!" I shrieked. "Yep", he says, "3 skunks, cost me a hundred and thirty dollars for this hat. Had it for over 30 years and it has traveled all over the country with me." By then I was practically giddy with excitement because I knew my kids would get a huge bang out of my story about a guy with a skunk hat. Knowing that having proof would only add more fun to my story, I asked the old man if I could take a picture of his hat. Of course he said yes, with his eyes twinkling. I took the pic and continued with checkout, all the while laughing and visiting with the old man. As I was getting ready to leave, I thanked him for the picture and wished him a safe trip home. I wheeled my heavy cart through the parking lot, oblivious to the wind and snow that was blowing all around me. I had forgotten all about the hum-ho dreaded task of unloading and putting away all of the groceries. Instead, I had a spring in my step, a smile on my face and a childlike giggle inside of me. All because of a sweet old man. A sweet old man with a skunk hat and a great sense of humor. As I drove home through the winter storm I continued to think about the man , smiling to myself and pondering what it was about him that was so special. Was it his smile, the twinkle in his eyes, or the way his face lit up when he told me he was a retired naval officer? Was it the way he chuckled when he described how his new hat arrived with not even the slightest foul smell, much to his disappointment, as he was looking forward to the reaction of others when he wore the hat? I decided that there were so many things that I liked about this man; his charisma, his passion for life, his spunk, his laid-back no-hurry attitude, and his ability to completely turn someone's day around for the better.
It wasn't until today that it became crystal clear to me that this was no random encounter. I was out for a walk, trudging through the slushy roads and sidewalks, thinking again about how this weather was really starting to get old. Suddenly the smiling face of the man I met yesterday flashed in my mind. In that instant I realized that God put this man in my checkout lane yesterday to remind me of all the things that I should be more thankful for. To remind me that there is no need for complaining. And to remind me that patience and a sense of humor is always appreciated by others. Mr. Skunk, you have no idea of the lasting impression that you made on me. I can only share this story with others, in hopes of inspiring others as you have inspired me.
Ain't he just the cutest?
