Saturday, September 04, 2010

if life gives you popcorn ...

Small town Americana sometimes can simply restore your faith in people and what we all are capable of.

Ridiculously hot for a week now, I talked Patti into trying a short outdoor outing to Carlisle’s First Friday, “Hollywood on High Street” to break the monotony of hopping from air conditioning to air conditioning.

While I have no idea what it had to do with Hollywood, George's Pizza and Subs was our first encounter and a godsend serving up free snowballs. More so was the woman serving them. Addressing Patti, “Dearie, I spent almost two years of my life in a wheelchair you do not want one of these paper cones, let me get you a cup and a spoon.” After whipping up a custom snow cone she hands the cup and spoon to Patti. Then with an after thought, places a pile of napkins in her lap, “here have a bunch of these, have fun make a mess!” … They just do not make people like this anymore anywhere!

M&T Bank was showcasing "A League of Their Own" where Patti won a bag of kettle corn in a baseball toss game the ladies of M&T Bank rigged not only for  outcome but genuine shared enjoyment. Bottom line any able bodied person steps out of their comfort zone to engage in physical fun with someone who cannot really see nor has much physical coordination. These were bankers not therapists. Above all they were just good neighborly people.

While there was soooo much more we could have done, 20 minutes in 92°F heat was taking a toll on Patti. Rolling into our Multiple Sclerosis friendly air conditioned wheelchair accessible van, we headed home for more air conditioning and a dinner of grilled chicken breast and kettle corn.

While I doubt you will find that in any cook book, Patti was not to be deterred from her winnings. If life gives you popcorn … serve it as a vegetable. :)

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer 
musings: patrick ponder

4 comments:

  1. Sounds like a simply wonderful time. People are kind for the most part.

    It is cold here in Iowa, I had to get my light coat out. I hope it cools down for you both soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am sure on some food pyramid, kettle cone is listed as a vegetable indeed! what a fun outing!! it is nice to see that compassion is still alive and kicking in America! going to be hot here today too; hoping it cools down for you guys soon! if not, just wait a month or two.........

    take care you two!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  3. opps, that should have been kettle corn; I think I was thinking snow cones :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  4. We're just a hop, skip, and jump from you, and we're experiencing the same dreadful heat. At least today, post Hurricane Earl, there are some nice breezes floating trough.
    A truly delightful post and so reassuring to see that there are still such caring individuals in our world.
    Peace,
    Muff

    ReplyDelete

Blog Archive