Being a part of it all Still In This Together:

It was New Year’s Eve, and I was actually catching my breath while I waited in a long line at the dollar store.

Our family Christmas had been held the night before at our son and daughter-in-law’s home, our outof-town daughter and her family were safely past the half-way mark on their way back to Omaha after being a tremendous help both physically and mentally with the process of our moving after 45 years in the same house, and, while I hadn’t found the colored labels Katie assured me were a vital part of the moving process, I had found some colored index cards I could use to mark moving boxes and the birthday cards I’d be needing for January.

It actually felt good to be standing patiently in line, away from the chaos and hubbub that awaited me at home, and would be an unavoidable part of life for the next couple of months as we sorted and boxed, picked out what was no longer necessary to our daily lives, and debated endlessly over just why it was so difficult for me to learn how to load the packaging tape dispenser by myself.

The checkout line wasn’t moving, and that was just fine with me. I watched as the very nicely dressed woman in front of me left her cart and came back with even more purple plastic cups to add to the large collection of purple plates, napkins, tablecloths and fancy party decorations.

“New Year’s Eve party?” I asked. “I really like the purple and silver combination you have going.”

“No, actually it’s for the grand opening of my new boutique in a couple of hours,” she said. “I know, I know, it’s a horrible time to be opening something new,” she continued as she moved all the stuff in her cart around nervously, taking stock of just what she’d put into the cart. “My friends told me I’m crazy, opening on New Year’s Eve, AFTER the holidays, but I couldn’t get the money I needed before this. I was so hopeful and confident. Now I’m not so sure.”

I glanced up at her worried look and tried to reassure her.

“Actually, I think it’s a great time” I said. “The holiday shopping is over, and I think women are looking to indulge themselves a little now. I bet you’re going to be surprised at the turnout you have today and this coming week. And the decorations are great!”

She smiled and we both happened to glance up at the same moment toward the lady working the register and the horrified look on her face as the line of shopping carts kept growing behind us. The cashier grabbed a phone and spoke quietly into it, then shrugged her shoulders and grinned at us with a look of helplessness. It was absolutely wonderful to hear the entire group of us waiting patiently in line start to laugh.

“Honey,” one woman said, “it’s wonderful to just stand her a few minutes. Don’t you worry!”

And I agreed. What a pleasure to just be calm, to talk to the brand-new entrepreneur in front of me, ask her where her boutique was, what made her decide to follow her dream, and promise her I would tell my daughter, who lives close to the new store, to make a point of going by there sometime.

Everyone around us seemed to be enjoying the sunny morning, talking to people around them, and smiling at the relieved look on the cashier’s face as a young man opened another line. There even seemed a bit of reluctance on their parts to move over after they had all been having pleasant conversations.

As I helped the new boutique owner in front of me unpack her cart, she reached for one more item in a box right at the register: a purple pen with a huge plastic diamond on the top of it.

“Good move,” I said. “Anybody who signs a credit card receipt with that is going to know it’s not hers, and you won’t have to worry about losing your pen.”

“How many cards do you have there?” she asked me, as she grabbed my things from the cart.

“I’m paying for this lady’s stuff,” she told the cashier. She turned back to me and said, “You have just made me feel so positive and happy.”

When I tried to argue with her, she just smiled and said, “Pay it forward.”

I thanked her and looked at the cash I had in my wallet.

“Okay,” I told the cashier. “Here’s a five-dollar bill I’d like you to put toward the things in the lady’s cart

Celebrating new love at St. Luke’s Hospital

Whoever said there’s no such thing as “love at first sight,” has never seen St. Luke’s Hospital baby buntings. St. Luke’s is known as the “baby bunting hospital” because they have been providing themed baby buntings on holidays and special occasions since 1997. Made by nurses and volunteers, the adorable offerings are a sample of the many ways St. Luke’s Hospital provides a warm and caring environment for families.

By Vicki Bahr

behind me. Don’t tell her until she’s checking out.”

It felt wonderful to be part of the surprised look on the cashier’s face as she said, “Well, I certainly never expected this morning to turn out so well. That line sure had me frazzled. You ladies have made my day.”

I couldn’t help the tears in my eyes, no more than I could help the feeling of joy and promise I felt on this day before the brand-new year.

I hope your 2023 is going as well as you were hoping and then some!

Vicki Bahr is an inveterate word lover and story sharer, a published author in magazine, newspaper and blog forms. As a mom of four, grandma of nine, and wife of one for 50 years, she finds that inspiration and wonder are everywhere.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News

Submitted photo