Paradise

My office is very close to Paradise Cafe and Bakery on N. Meridian so... I end up eating there often. I can get a pretty healthy meal and a cookie comes with it. (I have declined getting a cookie a couple times and they look at me like I have a third head. LOL) Anyway, this blog post is about my experience there last week.

I was super hungry, and super tired. Fiona had her first cold last week courtesy of the child care at the YMCA where we have decided to take her to boost her immunity naturally. ;-) So... she wasn't sleeping, feeling awful, crying, whiny, and not eating. We are also undergoing several big changes at the office. And.... I am sharing with other loved ones the burden of supporting/walking with my dad on his journey battling cancer. All of these are bullet points on my journey... so... back to Paradise.

I zoomed down the street and into the parking lot to the area I always park in. I go inside and there is a huge line. They always have plenty of staff to serve guests quickly so there wasn't a long wait. I opted for a roast beef sandwich (went for the gluten! as a splurge) and ordered a half salad to go with it. YUM! They gave me a ooey gooey chocolate chip cookie with my half sandwich! This cookie immediately went into my mouth. I know I know I'm not supposed to eat sweets before a meal. Like grandma/mom says it ruins your dinner. But... what the didn't tell us is it totally screws up our digestion and gives our organs (pancreas, small intestine, large intestines) and hormones a glich too. AS I SAID I was tired and super hungry! (excuses excuses!)

I get to the cash register and by then the cookie is mostly gone. I stuff it back into its package and dig for my wallet. OH NO! WALLET NOT IN PURSE! CRAP. I look at the cashier and say... I can't find my wallet it might be in the car. I'm going to run out and look and be right back. (Frequently I dig through my purse in the passenger seat to find... phone, chapstick, nametag, whatever. So the wallet gets tossed in the seat and out of the purse.) I dash out to the car. Past the Paradise employee who offers you a sample as you enter, she was REALLY EXCITED to give out samples this day. Once at the car I searched for the wallet. Nope no dice.

Go back in or drive away. Go back in. I went back to the register (past the super excited sample lady. Who greeted me again... very excitedly) and explained I couldn't find my wallet and it must be in the diaper bag, which doubles as a purse when I'm with 9 month old daughter, turned in a hurry and rushed to my car. Embarrassed of what just occurred during peak lunch time in which I held up the line and returned a over half eaten cookie. :-\

You must be wondering... did she eat? Yes, Jesse brought me a sandwich and my wallet was on my desk at the office.

.....................................cut to this week...........................

I returned to the site of the incident hunger in hand (and belly). We were supposed to have lunch as an office but circumstances changed and I needed to grab food during lunch break. I ordered half a salad and approached the register.... SAME PERSON at the checkout. She looked at me and.....(I waited for it)and she smiled (relief) and said "Are you the lady with the nine month old who left her wallet? Me:(sheepish grin) Yes. (smile)
Checkout:  You left so quickly last time.
Me: yeah I was very embarrassed.
Checkout: Our manager on duty "Ty" ran after you in the parking lot to give you your meal.
Me: REALLY? (remembering my hunger that day. I wish I had been less spry)
Checkout: Today's meal is on us and if that ever happens again don't worry we'll take care of you.
Me: Flooded with.... a really good feeling.

Thank you to Ty and the wonderful lady at the checkout who made an awkward embarrassed girl feel accepted and welcomed. :-)

Chin up out there. Life does bring you lemonade too.