Hey-O friends!
Today's post is a writing challenge created by Karen@Baking In A Tornado. 10 participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words for someone else to use in a post. All words must be used at least once. All posts will be different as each writer has received their own original set of words. No blogger knows who received their words or in what direction the writer will take them. Until, today.
My words are: control, grass, medical, rebate, furious
They were submitted by Karen@ Baking In A Tornado Thank you, my friend!
Check out the posts from this month's participating bloggers!
They were submitted by Karen@ Baking In A Tornado Thank you, my friend!
***
I've never been the kind of person who likes to shop just for the sake of "shopping." All of the people, all of the choices...it makes my anxiety go through the roof just thinking about it.
The introvert in me appreciates the conveniences and solitude of online shopping. This has never been more true than in these past few months with the Covid Pandemic. Some online stores deliver within a few days, some even take coupons and rebates. Others can come to your car and drop off stuff in your trunk! It's borderline magical. We've been able to buy our groceries, clothing, medical supplies, and many other things without crowds or time limits. Hey, online in April, we even bought a new bed!Who knew shopping could be that easy?
My favorite thing about online shopping though, has been the ability to keep my Grams (age 90), who lives back in Michigan, well fed, adorably dressed, and hopefully needing for nothing more than company. She'll always call and update me with the food that she made from her Amazon pantry boxes, or about the conversations she has with the delivery people that are kind enough to put her boxes safely on an indoor porch.
Charley: "Hey Shell, Grams called me because she got some large boxes and can't bring them in the house. She's worried because the delivery people left them outside on the grass. It's raining here and she needs my help. Just wanted you to know that's what's up."
I text Charley: "No worries. I was trying to surprise her with that Mac N' Cheese she loves. I bought a 24 pack. It's probably awkward to lift. Thx so much for taking care of it. Wear your mask!"
Then I listen to my Gram's voicemail:
Grams: "Shelly, some boxes came and they're really big. It's starting to rain. Charley is going to try to help me...Did you buy me a new piano or something?...Call me, this is Grams." (She always tells me who she is at the end of her messages.)
That's weird, I thought. I was starting to call Grams back when a text came in from Charley.
Charley: "Um, it's NOT Mac N' Cheese."
When I saw the photo, my heart fell into my stomach. I knew exactly what was in those boxes. I could NOT believe it.
I must have accidentally sent my Grams the new bed I ordered for our home!
To Michigan, Not Utah.
You know, in all these years, I could have mistakenly sent her a yoga mat or some pop-tarts, but no. It had to be three boxes of an assemble-yourself bed!
It was completely my fault. I had sent Grandma something from this same online retailer before. When I ordered the bed for me, I must have seen her address and never thought twice about it. Grams had no control over what to do with the bed, so my brother brought it to his house until we could straighten everything out. I was beyond furious with myself. I told my husband that we'd just keep the same bed we've had for 20 years and I'd give this new one to Charley or Grams. But, truthfully, it was never going to fit in Gram's cute house and it definitely wasn't a style my brother would embrace. It's a green four poster. Yep, green.
So we returned it back to the retailer. When they credited our account, my husband said to order another one if I really loved itand he'd stand OVER me while I bought it, but they didn't have another green bed. I tried again a few days later and guess what? They did have one! (pretty certain it was the one I returned). After three weeks of back and forth, with me holding my head as low as it could go, that bed finally arrived at my house.
"You sure you want to go with green?" asked the man, while unpacking the boxes.
"Are you kidding me?THIS is the last green bed we are ever buying! Ever!" I say.
Or, you know, until one of the kids needs a bed.
BTW, my Grams laughed at the whole thing and asked when her Mac'N Cheese would arrive.
"Sooner than my bed, Grams."
Have a restful weekend, friends!
Love, MicheleThe introvert in me appreciates the conveniences and solitude of online shopping. This has never been more true than in these past few months with the Covid Pandemic. Some online stores deliver within a few days, some even take coupons and rebates. Others can come to your car and drop off stuff in your trunk! It's borderline magical. We've been able to buy our groceries, clothing, medical supplies, and many other things without crowds or time limits. Hey, online in April, we even bought a new bed!Who knew shopping could be that easy?
My favorite thing about online shopping though, has been the ability to keep my Grams (age 90), who lives back in Michigan, well fed, adorably dressed, and hopefully needing for nothing more than company. She'll always call and update me with the food that she made from her Amazon pantry boxes, or about the conversations she has with the delivery people that are kind enough to put her boxes safely on an indoor porch.
***
I was returning to my house from a doctor's appointment when I saw that I had 2 voicemails. One was from my brother, Charley (who also lives in Michigan) and the other was from Grams. Charley: "Hey Shell, Grams called me because she got some large boxes and can't bring them in the house. She's worried because the delivery people left them outside on the grass. It's raining here and she needs my help. Just wanted you to know that's what's up."
I text Charley: "No worries. I was trying to surprise her with that Mac N' Cheese she loves. I bought a 24 pack. It's probably awkward to lift. Thx so much for taking care of it. Wear your mask!"
Then I listen to my Gram's voicemail:
Grams: "Shelly, some boxes came and they're really big. It's starting to rain. Charley is going to try to help me...Did you buy me a new piano or something?...Call me, this is Grams." (She always tells me who she is at the end of her messages.)
That's weird, I thought. I was starting to call Grams back when a text came in from Charley.
Charley: "Um, it's NOT Mac N' Cheese."
When I saw the photo, my heart fell into my stomach. I knew exactly what was in those boxes. I could NOT believe it.
I must have accidentally sent my Grams the new bed I ordered for our home!
To Michigan, Not Utah.
You know, in all these years, I could have mistakenly sent her a yoga mat or some pop-tarts, but no. It had to be three boxes of an assemble-yourself bed!
It was completely my fault. I had sent Grandma something from this same online retailer before. When I ordered the bed for me, I must have seen her address and never thought twice about it. Grams had no control over what to do with the bed, so my brother brought it to his house until we could straighten everything out. I was beyond furious with myself. I told my husband that we'd just keep the same bed we've had for 20 years and I'd give this new one to Charley or Grams. But, truthfully, it was never going to fit in Gram's cute house and it definitely wasn't a style my brother would embrace. It's a green four poster. Yep, green.
So we returned it back to the retailer. When they credited our account, my husband said to order another one if I really loved it
"You sure you want to go with green?" asked the man, while unpacking the boxes.
"Are you kidding me?THIS is the last
Or, you know, until one of the kids needs a bed.
BTW, my Grams laughed at the whole thing and asked when her Mac'N Cheese would arrive.
"Sooner than my bed, Grams."
Have a restful weekend, friends!
Check out the posts from this month's participating bloggers!
