“You are a blessing to my day.”
That’s what he said.
“You are a blessing to my day”, which I thought to be a very nice thing to say.
I was in the same parking lot, going to same cleaners that was the framework of another post.
It must be the parking lot. Some cosmic energy or force or forget-me-gas must be emanating from the cleaners or out of the pavement. Perhaps, a drone overhead, waiting for me to show up and film another segment of Penny in the Parking Lot.
As I headed out for usual errands, my cell phone buzzed with an email message from the cleaners. My order was ready. Isn’t that nice? It was on my circuit of things to do, so, I grabbed the claim tickets and off I went. First, the post office, which is not the place to go on April 15, then a few other quick stops, leading me to the cleaners.
I pulled into the lot, parked, gathered the tickets and my purse, closed the door to the car then noticed something amiss with the car next to me. I hadn’t seen anyone get into or out of it, but, there was a pile of clothes on the back seat in their plastic covering with the receipt attached from the cleaners.. The odd thing was that the driver’s door was open. Not ajar, mind you, but open as wide as a mouth in the dentist’s chair.
I looked into the window on the passenger side. A cup of coffee, some paperwork, a brown paper bag; the sort of stuff many of us have in the front seat of the car, especially running lunchtime errands.
I eased around the trunk of the car. “Hello. Anyone there?“
Miss Marple I’m not. There I was, looking for a clue as to why the door was open and hoping, no praying, there wasn’t a body on the other side. Did someone fall out? have a heart attack? slip on the cleaner bags? “Hello?” No answer. No body. Nobody.
People were walking around the lot, to and from their cars, going about their business. I asked, but, no one belonged to the car, a dark gray Toyota.
I sleuthed about a bit more, making sure no one was prone on the pavement. I’ve come upon bodies in parking lots; a man who tripped and needed a hand up. A woman showing symptoms of a stroke. I’m amazed at how many people pass by, especially when an elderly person is in distress.
Inside the cleaners, I asked a patron if it was his car. No, not him.
Back at my mocha VW with the latte interior, I hung my clothes and went around to see if the neighbor’s car door was still open. It was. Now what should I do? What if someone was abducted returning to their car? What if he or she were wandering around the lot, looking for whatever they needed to remember? It happens.
By now, sure that surveillance cameras had clear pictures of me, a Medicare Maniac, staring at an open car door, shaking her head and calling to no one. I thought to shut the door, but, what if it locked when it shut and the owner didn’t have another set of keys and was late on the rent and had amnesia? Really. What should I do?
I could walk away, but, if it were my car with the door wide open (and we all know that’s a possibility) I’d want someone watching over it/me.
I decided to check the stores closest to the parking lot, muttering “please, please don’t let it be Payless Shoes“.
First stop was a hair salon. I walked in and was greeted “Can we help you ma’am?“. I explained the open door and no driver. The stylist said “Maybe it’s Mildred’s. Hey, Mildred, did you leave your car door open?” . Mildred looked rather indignant, her hair changing colors. “Why would I leave my car door open?“, but, the stylist took her keys and we both checked, for, Mildred had a Toyota. Nope. Not Mildred’s.
As I walked back to my car, trying to decide if I should just drive away, which is not my style, when I noticed a man, dressed to the nines, coming out of Payless Shoes. More than middle-aged, but not quite an octogenarian, he strolled across the lot. Lo and behold, he was headed toward the open doored Toyota. I watched, as did a couple who I’d already queried who were returning from the cleaners with bags draped over their arms, waiting to see what would happen.
Well, my friend, Mr. Dapper Dan walked to his car, threw the bag of shoes on the backseat, looked at me, then the couple.
“Is there some problem with my car?”
“Well, sir, do you realize you left you car door wide open? “
“I did?“
Did he not see it open when passed by the door to put his clothes on the back seer?
You did, mister“, said the he of the couple as the she nodded in concurrence. Good. Character witnesses in case I needed them. I was starting to channel Mrs. Pollifax.
” I really must be more careful. Thank you, miss.”
I said “I’m just glad you’re okay and all is well” as I walked away, and then he proclaimed “Thank you, ma’am, you are a blessing to my day.”
A very nice thing to say.
Don’t you just love it, when something like that happens? You deserved that compliment.
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I sure do, Gerlinde. I was just glad someone came back and all was well. It was a reminder to me to be more mindful to close doors, too. 🙂
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He was lucky to meet you, Penny (and to come back and find his car intact.)
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He was really lucky to find his car intact. Nothing stolen, including the car. It was sitting like an open invitation. The insurance ticket had his phone number, and, well . . . and the could haves that didn’t happen.
Hope all is well with you and MTM.
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Penny, you were a guardian angel for this man. I do enjoy your stories, and am glad this one had a happy ending.
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I am too, Juliet. With all the scenarios that played in my head, all’s well that ends well. Thank you.
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Great story Penny, you had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen! What a nice thing for the man to say, well worth the time it took before he came back to the car. I’ll bet he wouldn’t want his children to know what he did!
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I’ll bet he wouldn’t either, Janet. The door was still wide open when he returned and he didn’t seem to notice that as much as three people staring at him. I was both touched at his words and relieved a crime hadn’t been committed. Thank you.
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I had to respond to some of your remarks today about Dapper Dan, Medicare maniac, his calling you ” miss” (always a compliment to ladies of a certain age), and his comment about you being a blessing to his day. In the South it is common to be told to “have a blessed day” instead of “have a nice/good day”. I imagine this gentleman was born in New Orleans or Atlanta where many men still dress like they are going to a tea at Tara. He had impeccable manners in spite of his lapse of memory. He handled the situation well. And he was fortunate to encounter Penny, who always treats people the way she would want to be treated in return. Now—you have a blessed day!
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Well said, Marilyn, and much appreciated. Thank you. He was dapper, and I was being flip in my rendition. He was a gentleman, indeed, though I did not detect a southern accent; definitely midwestern, no, Chicago. I was so relieved that the story became one of forgetfulness rather than something else. Oh, Marilyn, I could only hope that someone who do the same for me, though it was not my thought at the time. I was just worried that someone was in harm’s way.
Thank you and you as well. Have a blessed day.
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Oh, forgot; the Medicare Maniac was ME. 🙂
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Wow. What a lovely thing to say. But he was right. You were a blessing to him. Someone else might have walked off with his stuff.
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I was worried about that, L. Marie – or the car or found his address and did some damage before he got home. I have an overactive imagination. 🙂 I’m just thankful it all turned out okay.
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The gentleman was most fortunate indeed, Penny. In this day and age “possible mischief” is likely an understatement, and many who are a generation or two removed from ours would not even have noticed the open door to begin with, too engrossed in their hand-held electronic gadgetry.
We should all have such good fortune. 😉
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Several of those of the hand-held ilk did just that, Karen; totally oblivious to the car door, my fretting, even an awareness of the gentleman when he arrived. I must say that the woman from the salon was helpful. I went back in and told her the car’s owner had returned as I could see she was watching.
All’s well that ends well, and I know all of you would do the same.
Gorgeous day here – so far. 🙂
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On second thought: My comment came out stern and I never meant that at all! I laughed and laughed through the rendition as I went by your side and totally understood your concern. I surely didn’t think you were flip. I am appropriating Medicare Maniac for myself!
Pouring rain and flooding here so make the best of your pretty day!
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Dear Marilyn, how sweet of you to come back, but your first thoughts were quite wonderful 🙂 As for Medicare Maniac – ha! We are a club!
I enjoy learning about regional differences and with it the terms and phrases used. You and Andra from the South, Debra from the West Coast, and my good friend Janet (Country Mouse) from south central Illinois. It is amazing how different Illinois is from one end to the other.
I’m sorry to hear of flooding. Hope you are okay (and the cats, of course). Our day has remained quite nice, mid 70’s and sun. Cooler and then rain coming this weekend. April showers . . .
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You really went beyond what most people would be willing to do, Penny, and I must say that I’m not all that surprised! Unlike your response, I have seen people walk on by people who have either fallen or collapsed, and I’ve seen the opposite, people who have jumped right in to take control of a situation. I think character is defined by actions such as this kind gesture, Penny, and I’m glad the gentleman was aware that you’d done a kindness. Sometimes people turn the situation around and in their embarrassment make too light of it or are even irritable. You tell a great story, my friend. I do know the perils of just walking in a parking lot. I’m glad this story didn’t end with a personal injury. 🙂
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I as so relieved that the car’s driver had returned and nothing had happened. I don’t thin it occurred to him until I walked away that he had been forgetful, but, was so touched by his very gentlemanly and gracious response. You are so perceptive, Debra, and right; some would be so embarrassed that they would just want to flee. As I always say, all’s well that ends well.
Was it last year or the one before where you took that tumble?
Thank you, Debra. I just try to do the right thing.
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You do not have ordinary boring days! But I bet the people who ignored that open car door , who didn’t want to get involved, are probably the same people who whine because their days are monotonous. You remind me to stay alert to the possibilities in every situation … And to be willing to help when you can … I can do that and I try … But of course you alone are able to turn it all into a great story. You ARE a blessing to all our days!
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Oh, Sallie, thank you so very much. What generous and sweet things to say.
I think you are “spot on” with your mention of those who whine, but don’t get involved and just think what the world would be like if we all at least tried, as I am certain you do. 🙂 As I have mentioned to others, I was just terribly relieved that no one was in danger.
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What a perfect acknowledgement of your kind concern, Penny. A lovely little story to brighten my evening.
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Though you commented a few evenings ago, which I do hope was brightened, I’m just getting to you now, Perpetua. Thank you. I was/am just very grateful that it all ended well.
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What a wonderful guardian angel, detective,… and storyteller! I was so relieved to read the happy ending. You are always a blessing to our days, Penny! ♡
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Thank you, Dawn.
I was relieved as well. I was concerned about where the owner was, glad when he showed up. I will remember the gentleman’s comment and pass it on to my own guardian angels, for we all have them. 🙂
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