What a Bargain!

Just returned from a short trip to Springfield, Missouri. It was my last benefit fair for my Dad’s company this year. I get to sit at a booth and inform employees all about their amazing eye care and why our company is the best. It’s easy to do, but after the 167th person arrives to my table and wants to know why they should choose us, I withhold my desire to say, “because I said so,” and give the bullet point explanation one more time. 

I had a few interesting moments while dinning in the town of Springfield. I must preface the story with the fact that while on business trips my company pays for all my meals, so it’s nice not to have to order water and crackers to save on cash. So, I was ordering dinner at Panera from a nice young lady last night. I told her I wanted a bread bowl and apple chicken salad. “Do you want the pick two?” she asked me. “Nope, I want a big salad,” I replied. “What side would you like with that?” “Chips.” “What side would you like with that?” “Uhhh, I get two?” She shook her head yes.

At this point I knew I couldn’t muster the idea of one more starchy side, so I opted for dessert. “Can I get a cookie?” “Well, I can give you one,” she said hesitantly. “I can pay extra for it,” I said excitedly. (really I can, I have an alloted source of funds here, lady). “No, it’s ok. I can just give you one.” This is when she proceeded to try and give me a day-old, free cookie. 

I then went to Quizno Subs for lunch today. (I have a hard time there because all the sandwiches are so extreme…turkey, swiss, bacon, ranch or bacon, ham, cheddar. Just give me one meat and one cheese please!!) So, I asked for a turkey sandwich. The lady behind the counter asked if I wanted cheddar cheese. “No, swiss please,” I responded.

Then after noticing some of the other sandwich descriptions I said, “Can I please have guacamole on that?” She looked at me with hesitation. I’m confused now because I know they make it, but she is refusing to put it on my sandwich.  ”I can pay extra for it,” I say for the second time in 24 hours. “No, I will just give you a little bit,” she replied, as she gave me a small amount. 

At this point I gave up and allowed her to give me a little “free” guacamole. It was comical and a bit odd that I was trying to convince these people to let me pay for my requests. Never had a consumer met such opposition in an attempt to spend some extra funds. 

On a separate note I drove past a life-size nativity scene right in front of a McDonalds restaurant on my way out of town. It was painted, wooden figurines and the best part was that someone had painted the word “Jesus” over the top of the manger with the baby laying in it. Just incase someone was unsure who the star of the story really was….priceless really. (I attempted a quick pic from my phone, but I was too far away)

Stay tuned for more in depth blogging. I want to write about being presently minded about the age to come. I’m in the middle of a 21-day intensive about this very subject. I really want to love God with my whole mind and I find my biggest enemy is thinking upon the future in this life ALL the time. I promise to post tomorrow so check back!