Week 3.33: Thank You

I've been stalled out on blogging for two months, and when I logged into my account to check on blogs I follow, I noticed I'm not the only one who stalled out over the last few months. Ah, comfort in the most backward way that I am NOT the only one who can't seem to blog like I want to...but last night I had a most profound experience and I knew I was back in the saddle again.

A loong while back I was attempting to power walk/walk the kids to school on a winter's morning where we could all see our breath when a Toyota 4Runner went past us with the window down and a woman shouted out: "You're doing a great job!!!" My kids were shocked and embarrassed. I was stunned. It had all happened so fast and I had no idea who she was.

Well, whether she meant it the way I took it or not, I took it to heart. Because I didn't just take it that she thought my jiggly legs and pumping arms were worth a cheer. I took it as a message from someone who was inspired...I took it that my efforts with the kids, my new family and the routine I was establishing was all adding up to something more than I was giving it credit. Someone noticed. Someone thought it was great.

Time marched on like it always does and I kept trying to figure out which neighbor she is. Turns out there are more than one Toyota 4Runner in the neighborhood. I finally narrowed it down and got brave enough to ring a doorbell. No one answered. I decided I should just mail a "thank you" note "To the Lady Who Drives the 4Runner" but I hadn't gotten to it just yet.

"You're doing a great job!!!" has rung in my ears for months now, and I wanted to tell her how much those words meant to me.

Well, I finally got my chance last night when I was least expecting it. On the first day of the month we celebrate thankfulness I had a grouchy heart. We're trying to refinance our house, but it's complicated because I'm not on the title or the loan and my husband is...so I'm really trying to buy my house from my husband which is a lot more complicated than you might think. Anyway, I had something important to drop off at the bank and I had called ahead to see what time they closed and they told me 6m. I rushed over, but when I got there at 5:58pm everything was closed and the windows drawn. No such luck.

Disgruntled I drove home thinking it was a wasted trip. But when I turned off the main street into our subdivision, lo and behold, pulling into the driveway was the lady who drives the 4Runner. I eagerly parked my car and headed straight for her. Oddly enough, my husband ended up driving into our subdivision at the same time and he pulled over.

"What are you doing?"
"I found her. There she is! I'm going to tell her 'thank you' finally."
"Really? Okay, well, see you at home in a minute."
"Okay. This won't take long at all and then we can go on our date." (We had a previously arranged date that was already delayed by the bank runaround and his pursuit of a box from faulty equipment he had thrown out earlier at a job site.)
Meanwhile...the lady who drives a 4Runner is standing there bewildered.
"Hi, you don't know me but a long time ago you shouted: 'You're doing a great job!!!' at me and I just wanted to tell you 'thank you.' That meant the world to me." (Here is where I start getting choked up...already.)
"Did I upset you when I did that???" (Poor thing is still confused...)
"No! Not at all! It made a huge difference to me and I wanted to tell you to keep doing that because you have no idea how amazing it was for me to hear that...I was new in town with a new husband and new kids and I had no idea how great it would be to have someone cheer for me until you did it." (Now I'm almost sobbing.)
"Well, aren't you just the sweetest thing!"
Hugs.
"Again, thank you...and, well, okay your phone is ringing. Bye."
"Bye. ...'Hello, oh, yes...'"

 That quick. I still don't know her name. It doesn't change the level of gratitude I felt.

And for those of you who need to hear it, I wanted to tell you: "You're doing a great job!!!" Really. Whatever it is your unsure of or feel a bit off about or question as you fall asleep at night: "You're doing a great job!!!"

PS This week's photo is just a "random" photo I love. So I thought I'd share it with you. :) You should double click on the photo so you can see the beautiful area I live in. ;)