At Sunset on Friday - A Two For One

Last night, Grayson had a sleepover so as a family we decided to take her. Mason went because he thought he could convince us to go out to eat. I went because I needed to meet a new stranger. Once Gray was dropped out and Mason was somewhat satisfied that we were not going out to eat - there was an emotional shift in the car. It soon became, "Where is the weirdest place we can take mom to meet a stranger." First, let's go the funeral home....thank goodness there was no one there - or at least in the parking lot. Second, became a fire station and then we thought better of it. Third became the Buddhist Temple. And had it not been for the fact that Chris could not find an easy way to get into the parking lot - I would have been meeting the Buddhist Buddha people. Last, a strip center mall that had a T.V repair shop. Really, a TV repair shop - I chuckled and under my breath said, "What do they do there???"

Now, think about this for a moment. Do you know anyone who takes and has a TV fixed these days? I remember growing up and if we needed to replace a tube in the TV we went down to Geren's and got what my dad needed. But now??? By the time a TV "breaks", I think it is cheaper to buy a new one. So S&J Electronics was the selected destination. And to my surprise it was busy and packed with TVs.

I took a step back in line as I never want to interfere in the "real" business transactions. So I waited, listened, and noticed there was no real room to move in this shop. A small lane had been carved out to get to and from the counter. There were TVs stacked on the counter, there were TVs on the floor and there were TVs stacked on top on each other. In front of me was a woman I guess to be in her 30's. Who, a year ago, dropped off her TV and was circling back around to see if it was still there and fixed. TV still there - couldn't be fixed. She was dressed warmly against the cold. Black leather jacket, gloves, a hat. From standing there, I gathered that TVs get dropped off for fixing and then people never come to pick them up so they get sold. She turned to me and asked it I was there to look at purchasing a TV. Thanks for opening, "No." And into my spiel, "My name is Donna...." and I extended my hand to the man behind the counter.

"Hi, my name is JJ," he said. Young man probably in his 30's as well. I asked him, "Did you always want to own a TV repair shop?" "No, but things happen and you have to make do,: he said. I asked if he liked it and he told me, "You have to be happy doing what you are doing." I shook my head and acknowledged the point of a path not intended, but one that he took. At this time, the woman turns to me and says, "You can meet me too. It's a twofer." She removed her glove and extended her hand and told me that her name was Adrian. I asked Adrian what she did and she told me that she was an Office Manager for a Dental Practice. I asked her if she always wanted to be an Office Manager and she told me, "No." "I was a middle school science teacher in Mississippi before I came to Texas. But once I started teaching here it became evidently quickly that the only goal Texas has was to teach towards the TAKS test. And I didn't want to be part of introducing a generation of children to reality that they were not prepared for." Wow - someone who took a stand for what she believed. "So are you going to write a book about the people that you met?", she asked me. "Uh, well, I don't think so, but if I do Adrian, I will come back here and ask JJ for your address and make sure that you get a book." I then turned to JJ and said with a smile, "Don't loose her address, I might be back."

I wished JJ and Adrian a great evening and popped back to the car with Mason and Chris still patiently waiting. "What took you so long. It should take about 5 minutes to meet someone - Bada Bing Bada Boom and you where in there for 34 minutes." I buckled my seat belt and said, "I was lucky, I got a two for one. You guys picked a great place - you should pick more spots for me." And then I realized what I had said and visions of the Buddhist Temple started flashing before my eyes. I might have dodged the bullet for the time being, but I bet I end up there before this is over.