Peanuts, whiskey, and squeaky carts

I got the squeaky cart. I always get the squeaky cart. I went to the walk your ass off to get the 5 things you need mart today because I needed lasagna supplies. I woke up at 11 today, part of my new 3 days off a week ritual, and I sat in my pj's feeling lonely and bored til 4 pm. I'm riding the fence this week about feeling sorry for myself. S went back to work, so mon, wed, and fri, she doesn't get home til around 9 because of dialysis. I put clothes on, jumped in the car and doomed myself to shopping. I was in the wine aisle, the florescent lights from the beer case were buzzzing just for me. I probably couldn't have looked more miserable if someone paid me to. Then, around the corner comes this little old lady, white hair, print dress, about as tall as the buggy. She smiled really big and said, where are the peanuts? Without an answer, she proceeded, " M y husband use to be the biggest family clown. I'd buy him cheap wine and peanuts, and that silly old man would buy jack daniels and mix it in with his sugar and wine." Her eyes glowed, and I could tell she needed to talk about him. I felt selfish for feeling lonely. She went on to say she still had the silly old flask he mixed his concoctions in. All the while smiling like he was right there with her. She closed out the brief encounter by saying, " of course this was before he passed." She smiled and was on her way to the peanuts. I turned the corner and felt my eyes water. That was love, and that was lonely, what she felt. It was a sweet moment that happened in the beer aisle at the shopping center, and it felt like more than chance, but I know it probably wasn't. It's easy to be the star in your own show, but every once in a while you get upstaged, and it humbles you, makes you realize millions are daily living in this story book feature. So here's to peanuts, jack daniels, sugar in wine, love after death, and never being lonely... Did I mention I hate getting the squeaky cart.