Pay It Forward

FYI, if you go to the post office and expect them to tape your box you would be wrong.  I remember when I was a kid……

I learned this lesson years ago, unfortunately for the guy next to me he didn’t know it.  So you know me, I start up a conversation with that guy, the lady clerk and my clerk.

A little background:  I was at a 31 party last Thursday night with my new friends julee, liz, Rebecca, beth, and Kristen (you’re an old one), and liz reminded us that we should “Pay It Forward”, which often turns into karma when you need it the most.

I asked the lady clerk if anyone ever bought tape and left it for the next person.  She said they do.  So I grabbed one off the shelf and gave it to my clerk.  The guy next to me finished taping up his box, paid and told his clerk that he was going to leave his tape.

Me:  Yay, you’re paying it forward!  Just think, someone is probably going to buy you a cup of coffee right when you need it and you are all out of money.  What goes around, comes around.

Tape Guy:  Yah, I can hardly wait.

Lady Clerk:  Would you like cash back, sir?

Tape Guy:  I can do that here?  Sure.  I was just going to run to the ATM and now I won’t have to.  I’ll take $100.

Me:  OMG, she’s paying it forward.  She’s giving you money.  <Laughter, lots of it.>

Tape Guy:  Yah, the bank will probably pay me forward a service charge too.  <Smile>

I hand my clerk my credit card to pay for my purchase.

Me:  This is exciting!  I wonder what I will get.

My Clerk:  Declined.

Me:  What?

My Clerk:  You’ll get declined.  Your card says declined.

Me:  Excuse me?  Try it again, please.  I just used it for BBQ pork sandwiches.

My Clerk:  Your karma isn’t looking too good right now.  Declined again.

Thankfully, I had my debit card.

I called my credit card company and found out that my credit card had been duplicated and used at a Ross in California.  Do you know what I’m thankful for?  My bank rocks and stopped my card after the dirt bags spent only $300.  Thank God!!!! 

I went to pick up Liv from gymnastics and saw a guy watching his little girl and I just got a vibe.  I eavesdropped on his conversation with another guy for a little bit (cuz that’s what I do) and then found my segue.  We chatted for a bit and I told him my “Pay It Forward” story.  He turned out to be really cool. 

He’s a musician and knows where the Gorge is and is going to the Sasquatch Music Festival and is going to see Primus, among other bands.  Primus was the first band Thomas (my music loving guy) ever introduced me to when I made a really stupid girl mistake and left a party with two guys I didn’t know.  Upon hearing the song, “Sailing the Seas of Cheese”, by Primus, I realized that I was going to die that night.  That song is so scary to a girl from the country.  You have to be careful leaving a party with someone you don’t know, because you could end up married to the crazy nutball.  That should have been the warning someone gave to Thomas.  Sucker. 

Anyway, is this a great sign or what?

My “Pay It Forward”?  I made a new friend for Thomas.