Pizza Hut loves me

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . November 20, 2011 . 11:39AM

On Friday night, we were all exhausted. I’d been sick with flu-like symptoms (but not the flu-NOT THE FLU-I got the shot-IT WAS NOT THE FLU) for two days, AJ had run a fever for 24 hours and Leon was coming down with some symptoms as well. I was still pretty coherent, but I was living off of Ramen and Coca-Cola. About 10pm, Leon was in the backyard with the dogs and I was in the kitchen. I thought I heard him knocking on the window. When I walked out to ask him what he needed, he looked at me with a strange face and asked what I was talking about and shrugged.

Well, ok then. I walked to the front door. Generally, if you aren’t expecting someone, a knock on the door at 10pm isn’t a good thing. I warily opened the door and hid behind it while only poking my face out–because, you know, if someone has a gun the first target you want them to see is your face.

“Yes?”

A girl stood in front of me with two small boxes. I looked at her in confusion, then to her red hat and to her car. “Did you happen to place an order for some cinnamon sticks? I’ve misplaced the name, but I’m always over here in this neighborhood delivering something to you guys, so I thought it MUST be the Blueshelled house! When I called my store, they confirmed it was the Blueshelled house!”

As I stood there trying to decide if I should be amused at the situation, offended by the implication that we live on Pizza Hut or happy that we are favored customers. She went on, “Gosh, I have an extra box of these anyway and I’m not going to find their owners in time. We’ll have to give the other people a refund. Would you like a box of these?”

In fairness to the sweet Pizza Hut girl, AJ believes the nice lady at the McDonald’s Drive Thru is our personal chef and that Pizza is a food group. “Well, sure! Thanks!”

So, thank you, Pizza Hut, for our late night snack on Friday night. It was well-appreciated by a family of sick people who longed for some cinnamon stick sweetness. There is something to be said for being a favored customer after all.

Genuine Surprise!

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . August 7, 2010 . 9:26PM

I so love a good surprise. Not the “Oh cripes he just spilled a milkshake in the backseat” kind of surprise. One where I had no idea it was coming and it makes me cry like a little wuss.

Because I’m a girl and a good cry from joy can make me happier than anything. And I’m ok with being a wuss.

When I don’t know that anything is coming to my post office box, I check it less frequently. Honestly, I don’t need Hardees coupons or local flyers. When I opened my box this week, I had a gift. It was a slip of an envelope that had Kurt Halsey’s name on it.

One of my first blogs, in a much different time of my life, was about a custom Kurt Halsey piece that Leon had commissioned for me for Christmas. I love his work and lately had been longing for something that represented where I feel I am now.

I mentioned in my twitter that I was wishing for the postcards of his most recent works. I had no idea what I’d do with them, but I would find something creative. In my mailbox this week were these.

Thank you, mystery gifter. You have no idea what kind of week I’ve had and what they meant. Kurt included a couple of handwritten post its that made me weepy.

And I cried.

Like the little wuss I am.

And I loved it.

And I want to thank you

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . November 25, 2009 . 10:48PM

I have a post in my head that says thank you.

However, it is impossible to express what is in my heart adequately to those that have supported me all these years or for those who have supported me for just today. I don’t know how to say thank you in a way that conveys what I really mean to my friends who have been there for me all of my life and those who have just come into my life, in a time of great turmoil and are surely confused by the tornado I call a life.

How is it possible to give adequate thanks for all the good events and the bad that shape a life?

Thank you.

Jewel has a song in which she says “In the end, only kindness matters.” I believe that is true. I have a hard time living kind, but I experienced kindness today and I want to express my gratitude.

I hobbled into the gas station and slowly walked around the store and gathered my items. My nose was red and I was shivering. Leon and AJ were still out in Leon’s car and I was trying to be quick so we could get on the road to head to my mother’s house for Thanksgiving.

I filled my arms and walked to the cash register. As I placed the items slowly onto the counter, the cashier finished her conversation with her co-worker and turned to see what I was buying.

Orange Juice.
Halls cough drops.
A single pack of Dayquil cold and flu.
Carmex lip balm.
and Starburst fave reds (which I hoped I would be able to taste and ended up not even opening).

She looked at me with kind eyes and I didn’t say anything as I saw them fill with pity. “Aw, you must be feeling crummy, aren’t you, honey. Feeling sick?” I nodded and said that yes, I was, and thanked her for asking. As I was leaving, she said, “I sure hope you feel better soon.”

I thanked her again and got into the car for the long ride in which I slept deeply.

That small act of kindness–acknowledging that I felt bad and wishing that I felt better–made me feel better than I had in days. The one on one connection with a stranger that reminds us that we are not alone.

I am thankful, indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving.