Alright this past week has been hell and since I can’t think of anything remotely funny to write I’m going to talk about something that makes me smile.
Two years ago this month I quit smoking. Not many people knew I smoked but I did so for a good 10 years. I was over half a pack a day and it was my kryptonite. Anyone who smokes will tell you it’s not as easy as “Just quit” like the non smokers say. I can remember the exact moment that I chose to quit, I was driving in to get my hair done, and for some reason I had that “what the hell am I doing” moment that everyone talks about. So on my way home from the hair dressers I stopped in and bought the patch, went home slapped that puppy on and waited for the moment of self gratification to kick in. Well it didn’t, instead I became an insane emotional wreck that was looking at anyone to pick a fight with. David was always there and I believe we both agree now I almost killed him 3 times in an angry emotional rage (don’t drive and quit smoking is my only advice). After a week of bitter sweet hell I realized I had chosen the wrong patch and was on Step 2 which I thought was if you smoke more than ten cigarettes a day, but it was less than ten a day. So I was half withdrawing and half receiving nicotine. Fast forward, David is still alive and kicking, extremely afraid of me (which is an understatement) but he fought through it with me. David never smoked ever, and dated me, a smoker for 4 years. God knows how he did it because smoke smells like butt if you don’t smoke yourself.
So that’s not where the story makes me smile, it was that summer. That summer of rage, emotional outburst and endless tears I had one of my melt downs and the only thing that calmed me down was driving the Old Waverly Road by myself, music loud. So it was on one of my drives, tears pouring down my face for some god awful insignificant reason that I passed this (I assume 12 year old) girl on the side of the road with a sign in her hand “bracelets for sale”. I kept driving on and wound up at Mic Mac mall, I went shopping and then two hours latter headed back home the same way. It was a thirty degree day and even the A/C wasn’t enough to keep you comfortable. As I rounded the corner the same girl was still on the side of the road with the sign, waving as cars passed. I drove past her once more and then turned around at the gas station up the street. I drove back and pulled in the street she was on. She saw me coming back and threw her sign on the ground and ran back to a little wooden table she had set up with her friend. I walked over to where she stood. She was smiling ear to ear, and I smiled back. She presented the little string bracelets she and her friend had spent the day making. I pretend to look through each one admiring it as best as I could but the purple one was the one that caught my eye. I picked it up and said “I like this one the most, how much?” “That’s one of my favourites too, it’s a friendship bracelet. Two dollars please” she replied (which was a small rip off but after the day she spent outside well worth it) I handed over the two dollars as she smiled widely over her new cash. I looked at her and said “I’m going to give it to my best friend then” she smiled and I finished “She’s over in Korea so this bracelet is going to fly half way around the world” Her eyes grew so big and she replied “Really?!” I told her “yep my best friend is over there and I’m going to give it to her”
So that’s not where the story makes me smile, it was that summer. That summer of rage, emotional outburst and endless tears I had one of my melt downs and the only thing that calmed me down was driving the Old Waverly Road by myself, music loud. So it was on one of my drives, tears pouring down my face for some god awful insignificant reason that I passed this (I assume 12 year old) girl on the side of the road with a sign in her hand “bracelets for sale”. I kept driving on and wound up at Mic Mac mall, I went shopping and then two hours latter headed back home the same way. It was a thirty degree day and even the A/C wasn’t enough to keep you comfortable. As I rounded the corner the same girl was still on the side of the road with the sign, waving as cars passed. I drove past her once more and then turned around at the gas station up the street. I drove back and pulled in the street she was on. She saw me coming back and threw her sign on the ground and ran back to a little wooden table she had set up with her friend. I walked over to where she stood. She was smiling ear to ear, and I smiled back. She presented the little string bracelets she and her friend had spent the day making. I pretend to look through each one admiring it as best as I could but the purple one was the one that caught my eye. I picked it up and said “I like this one the most, how much?” “That’s one of my favourites too, it’s a friendship bracelet. Two dollars please” she replied (which was a small rip off but after the day she spent outside well worth it) I handed over the two dollars as she smiled widely over her new cash. I looked at her and said “I’m going to give it to my best friend then” she smiled and I finished “She’s over in Korea so this bracelet is going to fly half way around the world” Her eyes grew so big and she replied “Really?!” I told her “yep my best friend is over there and I’m going to give it to her”
Now the bracelet is wrapped my best friend, Kryslte M’s ankle as she travels around Korea and Bali (as far as I know, she’s probably on her way to some other Asian country)
So that’s my story, a little girl working hard for something she loves to do, and a travelling free spirited friend wearing something that made me smile.
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