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Topic starter
09/10/2022 8:49 pm
NO COFFEE on this one, but plenty of TALK
I don't drive my wife's car. But I do ride in it. The inside was getting a lot dirty with grass, leaves, and the normal dirt dragged in. The windows inside were allowing less clarity due to a long summer of air-conditioning clouding it up, along with the usual smears of course. A couple of days ago, she casually mentioned she'd like to take it to the "they clean the inside too, car wash". I agreed it would be good idea.
She was heading out with one of her girlfriends for some girl time, she WASN'T driving, the friend was. That left her car alone in the garage. A light bulb went on! I could take her car to the "they clean the inside too, car wash" and surprise her. I was excited with this thought, because it's these little things that impress her, and I'd like to think that it's one of the reasons we're pushing the (almost) half century mark being married. Trust me guys, it's the littlest things we do, that are really the biggest things. Sure I could buy roses and other junk just for the heck of it, but hey that costs much more (from a monetary perspective), and the roses die. But little acts of kindness that are perceived as being "thoughtful", they count so much more.
Now this said, I don't think that I need to prove my love for my princess, but I still enjoy finding ways to make her smile. So off to that car wash I went. While driving there, I realized that it's been awhile since I'd driven over to the old neighborhood where the "they clean the inside too, car wash" is, so it was kind of a sentimental journey. I only had to wait for one car at the pay window, but there were 3 cars in front of the car in front of me. Things being as I remember them, I calculated my waiting time would take about 45 minutes to an hour. I paid and waited my turn to give up the car to the guy that will enter the car wash with it. I walked inside to watch the car go through on the track.
I was enjoying my quiet and alone time watching.
The key word in the last sentence above is "was". Suddenly from behind me I heard a voice say, "Prices sure have went up". My head swung around to see an old guy (much older than me I thought). Being polite, I responded, "Yea, they sure have. But then everything has".
I again looked forward to watch my car and the other being vacuumed. I learned quickly, the old guy wasn't done talking to me yet. He replied to my comment, "We can blame Biden for that". I just smiled, said nothing and stayed looking straight ahead. I smiled only because I don't choose to get in to political discussions, regardless of whether I agree or disagree, I just don't want to do it. Again, I thought to myself, hopefully this is it.
After just a few seconds he says, "I sold my house for $65,000 over the asking price". Being polite and I thought positive, I replied, "WOW! That's great. See, not everything is bad". He was quick to blurt back, "Well, most of it is bad".
I'm thinking to myself, can I be done with this guy already? I just want to watch my car being cleaned. His car was behind mine, as he reminded me when he said, "I just bought this Lincoln. They wanted $15,000 for it. I got them down to $13,000". Trying to be supportive, I said, "That's great that you were able to get them to come to a price you were happy with". Then I asked, "What year is it?". His reply, "It's a 2011 with only 135,000 miles on it. She rides like a new car and it pulls my boat great".
I knew the car wasn't new when he told me what he paid for it. It was pretty color (sort of a Teal Blue), so I told him, "I like the color". Thinking of course while saying it, that I'd never have bought an eleven year old car with that many miles on it. But hey, that's just me.
The above exchange finished, there was about a half a minute of silence. I moved forward a little bit, thinking we were done talking. I should have knocked on wood, because he moved forward a little too, and started talking to me again.
Out of the blue he says, "I work at a car wash in Forest Lake. But they only clean the outside of the car, so I brought it up here to get the inside clean". I responded, "That's my wife's car and she needed the inside cleaned so that's why I came here too".
I looked at my watch and saw that (thankfully) was about 30 minutes in to that, what I estimated to be a 45 minutes to an hour wait. I was hoping the hands on my watch would move a little faster.
He then blurted out, "They take their time here, but do a good job". I nodded to him saying, "well for the price we agreed was much higher, I'm glad we're getting our monies worth". Then he says, "I work three days a week at the Forest Lake car wash, last week I made $135 in tips". I chuckled saying, "hey, that'll buy a nice dinner". He didn't miss beat saying, "well I didn't get to keep it, the wife took it". I did a "humph" sound and said, "next time don't tell her". And I offered a smile.
We had another pause and I'm wanting for time to fly. Then he says, "she had to take me to the Emergency Room last Friday". I respond, "Oh no! What happened?". He proclaims, "they told me I had a small stroke". Being sympathetic, I said, "Oh man, that sounds serious. Good thing you got to the emergency room". And then I asked, "are you okay now?". He mumbled, "I guess so". Realizing that I can't leave him now, I respond, "What did they do for you? Medication? Any follow-up?".
While asking him this, I'm thinking, OMG, he had a stroke on Friday and he's driving by himself today. And also saying to myself, I want to be on a different street when he's driving.
He continues, "the doctor said I have blockages on both sides of my neck (while saying that he used both his hands to go up and down on his neck)". I responded to him, "Ouch! Well be sure and listen to what the doctors tell you to do". He responds, "Well I'm not sure about the stents they want to put in. My brother has had stents and they're not helping him". I said, "the stents haven't helped him?". He says, "No, the doctors".
I've of course realized that I can only sympathize with this guy, as he is bouncing around with random comments. So I say to him, "Well, you've got to listen to your doctor, and if you need to, get a second opinion". Then I said, "strokes are serious, so you have to rely on the doctors to do what they feel is best for your situation".
I look forward, oh boy, they're almost done with my car! I again move a little more forward. The old guy follows me like a game piece on a Chess board, and says, "I suppose I could take the trailer hitch off the car now, since I'm done with the boat". I said, "did you put your boat away already?". He says, "yea on Monday".
After hearing this whole scenario from him, my mind rushes with the thought, he had a stroke on Friday, put the boat away Monday, and I'm still scared with him driving.
SUDDENLY, my stars are finally aligned as I notice my car is DONE! He starts to speak again, but I interrupt him saying, "well buddy my car is done, you take care of yourself". He replies, "I'll try. Thanks for chatting".
As I walk to my car, I realize this whole adventure has served two purposes. One, Lorraine is going to be happy and surprised that I got her car cleaned, and two, I was obviously supposed to be there for that old guy who need someone to talk to. I silently asked God to take care of him and went on being excited that I was going to pull off this surprise car wash.
Speaking of coffee, I could use a cup. 
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
09/10/2022 9:13 pm
Good story, George, it held my interest all the way to the end. You told it well!
Barry Levittan
Long Island, NY
Jack Dodds and George Schire reacted
09/10/2022 9:27 pm
Well said George. It is the little things that we plan and the unexpected things that we carry out that help make our world a better place.
This week, being in Canada, I changed my Summer tires to me Winter Blizzaks.
I listened to this retired gentleman for an hour in the waiting room talk non-stop about how the town had changed and all the interesting things that he had done over the last fifty years. In conversation, it turned out that his wife had severe dementia. I was the first person that he had talked to for over two weeks as he lived on a farm north of town.
I’d really wanted to read while waiting but I was glad that I had taken the time, just like you, to listen. It was a simple way to help.
My tire dealer has free coffee always on the go and kept fresh. I did not do without.
Jack Dodds and George Schire reacted
Topic starter
09/10/2022 10:08 pm
Thanks David. I like your story. I've learned that sometimes we just have to be there for some people.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
David Green reacted
13/10/2022 1:40 am
Thanks David. I like your story. I've learned that sometimes we just have to be there for some people.
So true George and David....it may occasionally be a bother but it can mean a great deal to someone else.
This post was modified 3 years ago by Jack Dodds
Topic starter
13/10/2022 10:54 am
Thanks David. I like your story. I've learned that sometimes we just have to be there for some people.
So true George and David....it may occasionally be a bother but it can mean a great deal to someone else.
I would hope that if the need were there for me, someone would take the time to just listen. We are all here to care for others and sometimes that means just listening. Looking back on the car wash experience in hindsight, it is now a fun experience, and I really to pray that "that guy" is blessed.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
13/10/2022 8:17 pm
Your Coffee Talks are always interesting reading. Did you ever think of putting them all together in a book?
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Topic starter
13/10/2022 9:13 pm
Your Coffee Talks are always interesting reading. Did you ever think of putting them all together in a book?
Thank you Ed. And funny you say that, as my daughter told me last week that I should do that. Maybe some day.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Ed Davis reacted