The VanNess Vagabonds

I think people stress out on the darnedest things. Like when you where in line at the coffee shop and there was a line out the door, but you wait patiently as you are late for work. But starting the day without your coffee could be the worse decision you have ever made. But all of a sudden, you realize as you were contemplating everything in your head from …
….(What age will I retire? I need to start jogging to work off all these Venti White Chocolate Mocha’s…I wish it were warm right now…God, does that girl realize the message she’s putting out there. I hope my boss doesn’t give me a bunch f crap for being late…much less my co-workers.LIKE they have never been LAte. YOU KNOW WHEN I GET TO…) Oh it’s okay I’m right after this guy in front of me …..
….And then the inevitable happens. This guy in front of me was in his head so much, he doesn’t know what he wants to order…Patience PAtience PATIENT. ( What’s in the caramel macchiato? What size can I get that in? Does that have a lot of calories. I’ll just have a large coffee. …by the way “How is your day?” he says to the lady at the register
Oh so now you want to make small talk do ya. I’m going to freak out on this guy right now.
…But the lady replies,
“You know your the first person in all of this morning that has said even a word to me other than what I can give them. I’m doing pretty good, I woke up this morning to my 7 year old son making me a treasure hunt.”
” A treasure hunt” the man replies,
“Yes, a treasure hunt through our apartment to find my treasure he made for me.”
“What did he make you?”
“Breakfast.”
“Breakfast.”
“Yes breakfast, but that was not the treasure. He said that I work so much that I seem to forget to eat. But his belly is always full. That I never seem to sleep so he made sure to get up early to make the breakfast so I could sleep. He made an adventure for me, because I always talk about how I wish we could go somewhere and do something special. He did this cause he wanted to give me a some treasure.”
“What was it?”
“I couldn’t find it…but then I smiled and laugh …and THEN he told me I found it.”
“What? What was it? I mean was he just wasting your time? ”
“No. Happiness. That’s what it was. He just wanted to see me laugh and smile. He said it had been too long since he had seen me do it.”
“That’s amazing. What did your husband say?”
“Nothing. He moved us here from Oregon, last year for his job. He then got laid off … then I got laid off. We lost our new house, new cars, new furniture etc, etc, …The stress of both of us being without a job destroyed our marriage of 9 years, he left, moved back home to stay with I guess his brother.
I stayed here I got 2 jobs that barely allow me to pay for my rent ,bills and provide food.”
“That’s terrible. What are you going to do?”
“Nothing. I have all that I need. I need a place to live, food to eat, and my son and I can do and go wherever we would like to.”
“Anywhere?”
“Yes. Cause as long as we have each other, we can make the best of it. All the wrong and bad going on today, can be right and good tomorrow. ”
“Wow that’s really awesome. I hope I can have a day like your day, someday”
“Oh that day was 17 years ago…It’s just the day I remember the most…Sometimes you have to realize that… …It’s all right to let go.
All that stress, money problems, work schedule, mortgage, job, food, what kind of coffee your gonna have if that guy would just get out of your way….Let it go. It’s not worth it. Smile or make someone laugh and your doing the best you can. Now if you’ll excuse me I might have to help this next young fellow out.”
“Well, Thanks and have another good day.”
“You too….
…Good morning young man. How are you ?”

And I replied with tears in my eyes “Good morning Mom.”

We all have good days and bad. I try to choose to remember the good ones when the day has been bad.
I try to make someone smile or laugh. I try to let go…

Now I hope you have a better day.