free paperclips and five minute friends.

Jerry and I were at some governmental building (I can't remember the name) applying for our marriage license today and we met a very unique man.  I am not sure why he was there, but somehow we all got to talking... yes I engaged in a conversation with a stranger, I confess.  Anyway he was so funny, he overheard Jerry and I joking that we couldn't follow directions and we had to do our forms over several times.  He jumped in, apologizing for eavesdropping, I eavesdrop too so I didn't mind, and gave Jerry a forewarning about marriage.  He said that it was trouble, that many marriages end in divorce, and that possibly I had already been married several times.  Well once before, but not several. 

Somehow he went on to talk about the Raccoons he feeds and those he fed this morning, something about how they know he is good and don't bite him.  Then he finished saying that he was excited to be stopping by Mc Donald's later, not to eat, but to pick up their pickle buckets that he finds in their trash.  Come to find out, they are perfect to plant things in and free!  But he was most excited about the paperclip tray on the counter, and that they were free!  He grabbed several like they were candy.

This got me to thinking.  How many of us are grabbing free paperclips, feeding raccoons and sorting through trash for pickle buckets at Mc Donald's?  No one I know.  Jerry and I decided after we saw him again in the parking lot and he smiled and waved that he probably lived alone and possibly was lonely.  He admitted to us that he wasn't married.  In fact, that is how that's how our conversation began, him asking us if he needed to have someone specific in mind to fill out a marriage form.  Then he wondered out loud where he might find someone to marry.  I offered to help him... and that is where our five minute friendship began. 

I commented to Jerry later on that I wished I told him we would never forget him, that he would always be a part of our special day.  He made me smile and literally appreciate the small things, like paperclips.  His personality and warmth was contagious and made me smile and it made the process of filling out forms memorable. 

If I can pass on one thing to my children it would be the trait of talking to strangers, not yet maybe, but later on when they are old enough.  I want them to open their mouths and then open their ears and listen to what someone else has to say.  Learn what is important to them and learn the important lesson of where to find things like good ol' free pickle buckets. 

Mean

"Mean" by Taylor Swift

You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man

Well, you can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your switching sides and your walk-by lies and your humiliation
You, have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them
I'll walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again

I'll bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old city
[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/taylor-swift-lyrics/mean-lyrics.html |]
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing

But all you are is mean
All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

But someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Someday, I'll be, living in a big old city
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?


Have you heard this song?  If not, go find it and listen.  It's funny, I have to be honest that I was not always the biggest Taylor Swift fan.  But this song changed my ways.  Lately I have had such a case of writers block, not because I don't have anything to say, but because I have to much.  In fact I could just go crazy writing all the thoughts in my head and be at it for days.

Right now I am dealing with an amazing battle in my life between good and evil.  Please pray for me and pray that I can continue to have the courage to fight for what is right.