She must have noticed how my face fell in disappointment as my head turned, first to the right, and then to the left of me. I had run into the store to grab a prescription, leaving everyone waiting in the car. As I went to close my door, he asks me to quickly grab him something as well.
I nod my head, irritated as I hurry inside.
Matthew had a craving for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups lately and asked me to grab a few. I tried to remind him that we had plenty of M&M’s and Kit Kats at the house, sitting in the freezer. The kids had been gone for several days, so the candy hadn’t been gobbled up just yet. But, no, his craving was specific, and judging from previous experience, if I don’t acquiesce, than the craving builds into some incredible hunger monster of epic proportions, often resulting in his “Go BIG or go home” philosophy that ends up with him miserable and having a stomach ache.
Now, I am standing there, prescription paid for in one hand, and three king sized Reese’s packages in the other, hoping to get through the checkout in a minute or two…not the twenty minutes it looked as if it were going to take, judging by the long line of full grocery carts in front of me.
“Would you like to go in front of me?”
I looked up into a sweet face, waving for me to come closer.
“That would be great, thank you!”
I squeezed in between the cart and her, sucking in my stomach as I did this, shuffling my feet in a strange dance as I place the candy bars down on the conveyor belt. In full disclosure, sucking in my stomach does not, in fact, make my ass any smaller as I try this…but it is always worth a try.
I had noticed, as this older lady and I had done our strange shuffle dance, that she had a bandage just under her shirt. I assume it is a port, and I try to glance away quickly so as not to make her uncomfortable that I had been staring. My eyes venture over to the stacks of pizza boxes and frozen egg rolls, and various other over-processed foods. Maybe she has a Matthew at home as well.
She reaches over to rearrange the food, smiling.
“My grandsons are coming over tonight for a sleep over. They are bringing some friends and instead of cooking, I am hoping this might be enough to fill them up for a while!”
I know all too well how hard it is to feed the never-ending pit of teenage appetites. I learn that her grandsons are in their teenage years but still love coming over to Grandma’s house. I share with her I how I can’t wait to become a grandma!
Wait!
I quickly clarify that I can in fact wait, as my oldest is not quite 18 years old, but that I am looking forward to spoiling babies…only handing them back when I am done!
She mentions that she has enjoyed having her grandbabies over since she moved her almost thirteen years ago.
We talk more about parenting and the joys of kids.
She tells me how perfect her grandkids are. I nod, telling her that my children are also pretty perfect.
“It’s the parents, you know.” She leans in to tell me this as if it’s a secret between us. I laugh, telling her I don’t think I had much to do with it. I was really just blessed with great kids.
“When people tell me that kids today are awful, I just don’t agree! It’s the PARENTS that are awful!”
I can’t help but agree with her a bit on this.
She mentions the cancer.
She is doing really well with the chemo. In fact, today was her anniversary and she celebrated by having another chemo round. Her husband wasn’t doing anything to celebrate, but she seems content with feeding teenage boys with copious amounts of junk food.
She proudly pats the stylish grey bob on her head, “I did lose my hair, but I have plenty still to spare!”
I tell her I am sorry but that I am glad she is still feeling so well.
“It was more emotionally hard seeing all the other patients come in, looking sicker and sicker with each round.”
I nod in agreement again. I have no experience with that, but I can imagine it must be really scary and difficult not knowing.
She says how thankful she is, because she knows it can be worse.
I mention that my husband has ALS but that I have learned to find even the smallest things to be grateful for.
Her eyes widen, and then fall as they fill with sadness, her hand squeezing my forearm.
She gets it…
I give her a small smile, trying to comfort her as she tries to apologize for something she has no control over.
I don’t have any person experience with cancer. I know people who have had cancer. I knew people who have passed from cancer, but my experience with having a close loved one with cancer and caring for them is next to nothing.
However, there is something comforting about looking into another person’s eyes and finding compassion and understanding.
For just a moment, two complete strangers were able to connect about how life isn’t fair, but that joy can still be found in the love for family, a few boxes of pizza and maybe a Reese’s peanut butter cup or two.
And that craving of Matthew’s?
Yeah, those king-sized bars made their way into the freezer, along the other piles of junk food…
ALS Fact of the Day~ 