A "Whoa" Moment

First, I want to thank everyone who reached out to me after my last post. Your kindness and concern is humbling. It made me feel wonderful to know how people really care. So, again… thank you.

(That even goes for that certain someone who told me to relax, or else she would "kick your skinny Irish butt all over town. And with four-inch heels, that would hurt. A lot." It was the first time the prospect of a butt-whipping was comforting. lol)

I have one more day to go 'til my vacation mercifully starts. I cannot wait to get to tomorrow afternoon at 4:00-ish. I plan to celebrate by watching the entire Anne of Green Gables DVD set. A friend joked recently that she was a Southern Belle in a previous life; I replied that I always wished I could have been Anne. :c)

But before I get to Friday, I had to get through Thursday. And as awful as Tuesday was, something happened today that almost single-handedly made up for it. I still have a hard time believing it was real.

But it was. :c)

I have been working in the main office this week, thanks to my manager L, who bent the rules to allow me to work there for the remainder of this week. She is, as my friend and co-worker B calls her, a good egg.

My co-worker S is also working in the main office today. Yesterday we had lunch with B, who is based out of that office. However, he had to leave early today, so S and I decided to go to a nearby Chili's for lunch.

We walked in and, as it was relatively early, we stood by the hostess's desk, which was unoccupied. Needless to say, I was in boy mode, wearing sneakers, jeans, and a hooded zip-up sweatshirt under my winter coat. I was also wearing what S jokingly refers to as my "magic glasses," because when I take them off multiple people have been amazed at how different I look ("It's like your Clark Kent," she noted. "Only you're a girl!")

After a moment, the hostess comes bustling up. As she walked to her desk to pick up two menus, she smiled at us.

Then she said the following:

"Good morning, ladies! Are you girls here for lunch?"

Oh.

My.

God.

I was, literally, speechless.

After a moment, S said "Yes, please," trying her best to conceal her grin.

The hostess smiled at us again, brought us to our table, and wished us a Merry Christmas.

She never blinked an eye.

As soon as she left, S turned her brightest, most-megawatt smile on me.

"S," I said, feeling dazed, "Did that really just happen, or am I imagining it?"

"It most certainly did happen," she said, smiling even wider. "Congratulations, Cass!"

"Wow," I said. "I really can't believe it."

"Haven't I been telling you for months now that your looks are changing?!? *Now* do you believe me?!?" She paused. "And remember: you were wearing the "magic glasses" too!"

Now that truly was a Happy Meal, as you might imagine.

I kept breaking into a goofy smile for the rest of the afternoon every time I thought of it. Which was, well, a lot. :c)

Wow, did that feel good. I still can barely believe it. But S was there; it happened.

It sure is an encouraging omen, at a minimum!

***

'Tis the season for Christmas carols, but since I'm, well, "unique" (as my mother puts it) or "weird" (as my sister C puts it), I tend to gravitate to more offbeat seasonal offerings.

And on that note, here is a Christmas song whose sentiments could only come from its author, the great Tom Waits:

How he manages to mix humor, heartbreak, and pathos, and still somehow ends on a note of hope is why he is a master songwriter and artist.

Another favorite, Neko Case, has recorded a stunning version as well. Exact same song, exact same lyrics, but a totally different (and equally affecting) interpretation: