This post is inspired by a conversation I had with a friend today, a Facebook post by my husband, and hearing the song "Never Say Goodbye" by Bon Jovi. All three things happened within a few minutes of each other and got me thinking about break ups. Mostly high school ones.
My very first break up was heart wrenching as first break ups often are. We had been at a church dance and on the way home he got mad at me for flirting with another guy. I didn't even realize I was doing it. I'm a Gemini. I flirt. It meant nothing but he thought otherwise. We remained friends but at a distance which killed me. Thankfully years later we were able to talk about it and had some closure. He is still a very dear friend of mine.
There was the guy in high school who I never even though would date me in the first place. I had a bad experience at my Senior prom and was telling him about it the Monday after when he said "I would have taken you to prom if you'd asked me". Seriously? Wow. That lead to a couple of months of bliss. However I was also involved with a guy long distance and one night he said "its me or him". I chose the long distance guy. After I made my choice he said "I'll take you home. I never wanted to marry you anyway." I know those words were said out of pain and ouch did they hurt! I also think he really did think about marrying me... I thought about marrying him too.
And then there was MT. I met him at a church dance (not the church dance mentioned above mind you). I was a Junior, he a Senior. We dated for a couple of months and he even invited me to his prom. Before prom however came the Sadie Hawkins dance. Sadie Hawkins is where the girl asks the guy and they both wear the same shirt. You get "married" by the old country preacher and sit on bales of hay for your picture. I thought we had a great time. We got in the car to go home (which was literally across the street) and he said to me "I'll call you.". I knew right then and there he wouldn't. I got a good laugh when I got the dance pictures and his eyes were closed.
A year later there was a knock on my door and it was him. He apologized for being such a jerk and wanted a second chance. Silly me gave it to him. We went out that weekend and he brought me to meet his roommates (I was a Senior now and he had graduated). After meeting the guys we went downtown to one of my favorite restaurants. Just as we sat down the roommates showed up. Just a coincidence, right? That's what I thought. They ate with us and then we headed back to our part of town for a movie (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure). Bought tickets and popcorn, found a seat and then ...yep, roommates showed up and sat with us. By this time I was getting a bit irritated. Went to Burger King after the movie and yeah, second verse, same as the first. Strangest date ever. A couple of days later I get a phone call from one of said roommates. We chatted for a few minutes and he asked if I'd like to go out that weekend. Huh? I said "um, I think M might not like that" to which he responded "oh, M gave me your number!" Needless to say I never saw MT again. Roommate and I however have remained lifelong friends. Introducing R to me is the best thing MT ever did.
High school breakups can tear apart our hearts. They bring tears and pain. They mold and shape how we handle other relationships in our adult life. With two daughters I'm glad I have these experiences to share with them one day. I remember all of those "boys" fondly (well, maybe with one exception). They all left a permanent mark on my heart. I think Kevin from The Wonder Years said it best - "Maybe part of loving is learning to let go. "
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best
My name is Betsey and I'm a Hallmark-aholic. I grew up knowing that greeting cards were an important part of not only holidays but everyday life. My mom and I have always sent cards to each other for every occasion and just because its Tuesday. One of our favorite pastimes has been to stand in a Hallmark store and show each other funny card after funny card. I would dare to bet we were one of the first customers to buy a Shoebox card. I can't tell you how many times members of my family have sent the same card to one another. And yes, I keep them. I have decorative hat boxes and I keep every card I get. I see it as a life history... the notes that will one day help me write my memoirs. Each card sparks a memory of a special moment or person in my life.
I've always wanted to work for Hallmark so when the opportunity presented itself in October I jumped at the chance. I worked at an independent store for about three months and recently moved over to a Corporate store - the biggest store in the South actually. Its like being in Heaven. Every day my job consists of greeting people with a smile and helping them find just that perfect gift or card. I'm a natural and it feels wonderful to do what I love. Everyone has a story to tell and I love to listen. My days are filled with what is called Hallmark Gold Crown Moments. I get paid to help build relationships. And sometimes I even get to form new relationships with my customers. What can be better than that?!
One of my favorite customers was a woman named Sara. I say was because she will not be able to come visit me at my new store as its across town and doesn't drive that far anymore. The first time I ever met her she had low blood sugar and needed candy immediately. I gave her a bar of Godiva chocolate with orange filling and I'll never forget watching her shaky hands try to open the wrapper. She stuffed almost the whole thing in her mouth at one time and within minutes had stopped shaking. Her husband has Alzheimer's and she only gets out when she can get a sitter for him. She always came with a list and I would read the cards to her and help her pick just the right one for each person. Then we had to find envelopes to match. A card with a plain white envelope would never do. She would pick a color in the design of the card and we would search until we found just the right shade of yellow or blue or green. Some would call her high maintenance but in some way I think it was her way of escaping the sadness at home. Once she picked out her cards she would always purchase whatever stuffed animal was on sale. She had no children but the animals brought her so much joy. Her face would just light up when she pushed the button that would make the toy sing or dance. She came in on the very last day I was at the other store and asked me to write down my name and birthday in her calendar along with my address. I look forward to June when I'm pretty sure I will receive my very own Hallmark card picked out by sweet Sara.
Today was filled with many Gold Crown moments. I helped a grandma-to-be pick out a special gift for her new granddaughter. I got to help a man pick out thank you cards for the gals in his office. He was giving out bonus checks and wanted to make sure they were presented in a special way. I connected with a customer because she was wearing a Michael Buble hat and she ended up showing me a You Tube video that I am now sharing with you (pardon some of the language). I helped a man find the perfect "happy" for his daughter who he was about to meet for an impromptu lunch. I spent at least 20 minutes with one woman trying to help her find just the right jewelry to match a shirt she had just bought at the boutique next door. My favorite moment today though came when my high school choir teacher came in, took one look at me and instantly recognized me (we're talking 25 years people!). We had a wonderful chat and it was so much fun catching up with her and helping her find a gift for her 88 year old mother. This all happened in a four hour time span. And every single shift is like this. I wish I could carry a notepad around and jot down the stories I hear and the moments that make me smile.
I'm so grateful not only to have a job but to have what is literally my dream job. I may not be saving lives or creating masterpieces but I'm touching hearts and funny bones and to me that's the greatest thing in the world.
I've always wanted to work for Hallmark so when the opportunity presented itself in October I jumped at the chance. I worked at an independent store for about three months and recently moved over to a Corporate store - the biggest store in the South actually. Its like being in Heaven. Every day my job consists of greeting people with a smile and helping them find just that perfect gift or card. I'm a natural and it feels wonderful to do what I love. Everyone has a story to tell and I love to listen. My days are filled with what is called Hallmark Gold Crown Moments. I get paid to help build relationships. And sometimes I even get to form new relationships with my customers. What can be better than that?!
One of my favorite customers was a woman named Sara. I say was because she will not be able to come visit me at my new store as its across town and doesn't drive that far anymore. The first time I ever met her she had low blood sugar and needed candy immediately. I gave her a bar of Godiva chocolate with orange filling and I'll never forget watching her shaky hands try to open the wrapper. She stuffed almost the whole thing in her mouth at one time and within minutes had stopped shaking. Her husband has Alzheimer's and she only gets out when she can get a sitter for him. She always came with a list and I would read the cards to her and help her pick just the right one for each person. Then we had to find envelopes to match. A card with a plain white envelope would never do. She would pick a color in the design of the card and we would search until we found just the right shade of yellow or blue or green. Some would call her high maintenance but in some way I think it was her way of escaping the sadness at home. Once she picked out her cards she would always purchase whatever stuffed animal was on sale. She had no children but the animals brought her so much joy. Her face would just light up when she pushed the button that would make the toy sing or dance. She came in on the very last day I was at the other store and asked me to write down my name and birthday in her calendar along with my address. I look forward to June when I'm pretty sure I will receive my very own Hallmark card picked out by sweet Sara.
Today was filled with many Gold Crown moments. I helped a grandma-to-be pick out a special gift for her new granddaughter. I got to help a man pick out thank you cards for the gals in his office. He was giving out bonus checks and wanted to make sure they were presented in a special way. I connected with a customer because she was wearing a Michael Buble hat and she ended up showing me a You Tube video that I am now sharing with you (pardon some of the language). I helped a man find the perfect "happy" for his daughter who he was about to meet for an impromptu lunch. I spent at least 20 minutes with one woman trying to help her find just the right jewelry to match a shirt she had just bought at the boutique next door. My favorite moment today though came when my high school choir teacher came in, took one look at me and instantly recognized me (we're talking 25 years people!). We had a wonderful chat and it was so much fun catching up with her and helping her find a gift for her 88 year old mother. This all happened in a four hour time span. And every single shift is like this. I wish I could carry a notepad around and jot down the stories I hear and the moments that make me smile.
I'm so grateful not only to have a job but to have what is literally my dream job. I may not be saving lives or creating masterpieces but I'm touching hearts and funny bones and to me that's the greatest thing in the world.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
My proof there IS a God - Part Deux
I spent the weekend at the Mid-South Great Banquet. Its a 72 hour renewal weekend and I went as a guest in October of 2004. This is the fourth team I have worked on and every weekend has its own unique spirit filled moments. There are 15 talks during the weekend and after each talk we discuss in small groups and then make a poster or come up with a skit to share with the rest of the group later that evening.
Saturday's first talk was about making time to study God's Word. The speaker mentioned how there are so many resources available to us including countless Bible translations. Our table decided to do a skit. I was the owner of a bookstore and a customer came in trying to find a Bible she could understand. One of my life verses is Matthew 11:28-30 and we decided I would show the customer that verse in three different translations.
The first was the NIV which says this :
The New Century Version says this:
We completed the service and I immediately went to Missy to explain the outbursts. She chuckled and said "When I prayed this morning, those are the verses He gave to me."
Coincidence? I think not. If anyone knows when we humans need a laugh, its God.
Saturday's first talk was about making time to study God's Word. The speaker mentioned how there are so many resources available to us including countless Bible translations. Our table decided to do a skit. I was the owner of a bookstore and a customer came in trying to find a Bible she could understand. One of my life verses is Matthew 11:28-30 and we decided I would show the customer that verse in three different translations.
The first was the NIV which says this :
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”The gal playing the customer said she was really confused about why the pastor was talking about eggs in the sermon. The routine went on for several minutes. Everyone thought it was hilarious. Trust me. It was a "you had to be there" kind of moment. As we read the verse from two other versions she realized it wasn't about eggs at all.
The New Century Version says this:
28 "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. 30 The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light."And my personal favorite, The Message Translation, puts it like this -
28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."The next day at the closing service for the retreat, the pastor had a short message before Communion. As she started to read Matthew 11:28-30, the solemn room burst into laughter. She was REALLY confused since she had missed the poster party the night before. She stopped long enough for us to settle back down and read another verse - Galatians 5:1 which says
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.As soon as she said yoke we cracked up again. Poor Missy. She had no idea what was so funny.
We completed the service and I immediately went to Missy to explain the outbursts. She chuckled and said "When I prayed this morning, those are the verses He gave to me."
Coincidence? I think not. If anyone knows when we humans need a laugh, its God.
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