Saturday, I’m on my way home from my weekly appointment with Patsy down to Hair Affair, when on a whim, I turn into the Agway parking lot. Don’t know why, because I’d planned on going straight home to clean the house. It just kind of happened. Generally, Charlie’s the one who shops at the Agway. Me, not so much. But there I was. So, I go inside thinking, Maybe I can find another hanging plant for the deck.
Well, no sooner do I get in the door, when who do I see? Debbie Plourde. I hadn’t seen Debbie since Washington crossed the Delaware. She was a year behind me in school. Debbie left Mahoosuc Mills right after she graduated, married a fella from Bangor who was in the service, and they’ve lived all sorts of places since then. So she was home visiting her parents. Boy, did we have a nice little chat. Great to catch up!
So once we say goodbye, I’m heading for the hanging plants, when I see those great rubberized gloves for gardening. One season is about all they’re good for, and mine were shot. So I snap up a pair of those, this great purple and pink petunia combo to hang over the deck and the cutest garden gnome with his little donkey (because it was there and adorable).
I’m standing at the checkout, and this Badger Sleep Balm caught my eye. It has a sweet picture of a badger sleeping on the lid. Joyce Wilson (it’s her family that owns the Agway), was running the register. She said the stuff is a marvel. You rub it on your temples, wrists and lips when getting into bed and it’s real relaxing. Plus, it smells good.
“Joyce,” I says, “can this stuff do anything about Charlie’s snoring?”
Good salesperson that she is, Joyce replies, “Can’t hurt to try!”
On my way out of the store, I got to thinking of my Grampy Gilbert. More than once I remember him telling me, “Mon petit choux, I learn early on, it’s good to have a plan, but don’t be stubborn about it, eh? Keep your eyes open for ‘happy accidents.’”
“Me? I decide to leave Quebec when I’m a young chipper. You know, find me a better life dans les Etats Unis. My plan? Go to Woonsocket, work in the mill like my brother, Henry. But I get to Maine, and decide to visit my cousin Ralph here in Mahoosuc Mills. And one night, at a dance, who do I see from across the room? Your grandmother. Mon Dieu, my heart skips a beat. So, I work up my courage and ask her to dance. Sweet thing, she takes pity on me. When I take her in my arms, c’est ça, eh? We just fit. Right then, my big plan flew out the window. Your mémé was the happy accident that changed my life.”
Back in the Agway parking lot, I’m smiling as I put my happy accidents into the trunk of my car. Just then I hear a voice behind me, “Fancy meeting you here.”
I turn around and it’s my sister, Irene. “Reeny! How you doing?”
“Great! I was on my way back from the A&P and remembered I needed some potting soil.”
“Hey,” I says to her, “you want to catch a late breakfast down to the Busy Bee?”
“Sure, I could eat something. Let me get a bag of dirt and let’s do it.”
Irene got some of that Badger Sleep Balm too, which we’re both loving. Got to tell you, though, it don’t do much for Charlie’s snoring.
Oh, we had a great time down to the Busy Bee. I won’t go into details. Let’s just say bacon was involved. The whole morning ended up being a lot more fun then the one I’d planned for myself.
I’m sure glad I stopped at the Agway when the notion struck. Though, I don’t know if Charlie would agree. When I showed him that garden gnome I could tell he thought it was an accident. But not necessarily a happy one.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
IDA’S PODCAST: THE HAPPY ACCIDENT
Coming Up This Week
May 26: The Best of Ida, The Castle on the Charles, 7:30pm (doors open at 6:00, drinks and light menu), Rochester, NH
This Summer
August 6, 13, 20, 27: The Best of Ida, The Footlights Theatre, 7:00pm, Falmouth, ME
August 10 & 11: I Married an Alien!, ACT ONE Summer Festival, Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
Check out my full schedule here.
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I love entertaining groups, small and large! The following are wicked fun for after lunch, after dinner, rewards banquets, keynote speeches and what not.
This is a bunch of my favorite stories from all my shows, plus brand new ones. I custom design this program to meet your needs in terms of length and can feature subjects of interest: friendship, men, marriage, health, weight, life in a small town, seasonal stories, you name it!
The Moose in Me, The Moose in You
Move over Oprah! I have found my “inner moose” and become a Certified Maine Life Guide. After years of “Running with the Moose”, I’ve picked up a few pointers. And you know what? It turns out, you can learn alot about life from a moose. In this motivational moose-terpiece, I’ll cover topics from A to Zumba, and offer helpful hints on to live a happier life.