And Then There Were Two

                Registering for my Senior High School classes was something I had dreamed about all summer.  Most of my required courses were done so I would be able to enjoy choir and art, as well as participate in a jobs program.  As soon as I got there I headed straight for the English Department table to sign up for 3^rd hour with my favorite teacher.

                I told the girl behind the table my name and she fingered through a box of index cards.  She couldn't find mine so she checked her class lists and said that I had already been there because I was signed up for 4th hour.  Telling her that I just walked in the door I handed her my ID thinking she might have misheard my name.  My maiden name is Polish and it was often misread and mispronounced.  After checking her list again she told me that the person signed up for 4^th hour had the same first, middle and last name with the exact same spelling. The only difference was that she was listed as a junior.

                I was getting frustrated having to explain at every table that there were two of us.  When I reached the last table and handed in my course cards the registrar was waiting for me.  She asked for my Mother’s first Initial and when I said that it was E everyone at the table laughed.  Amazingly, although the names were different, her mom’s first initial was also E.  The registrar needed something to add to our computer records to tell us apart so she finally settled on our mother’s maiden names.  Secretly I felt as though my identity had been stolen and I wondered if she did too.  I guess I will never know because as close as she seemed that day I never met her face to face. 

It's a Cynical World Virginia or All That and A Bag of Chips

           As a single mom Christmas could be a little lean.  The year my daughter turned 5 was no exception.  We were home on Christmas Eve preparing for the extended family’s gathering on Christmas Day.  After we finished baking cookies and wrapping gifts I brought out some snacks which included a bag of potato chips.  We settled down in front of a Christmas movie and reached into the bag.  My fingers touched something that felt like a postcard.  Pulling it out I saw the words, “You are an instant Winner!” written across the top.

I scratched off the silver prize circle expecting to see a free bag of chips or 10% discount written underneath.  To my amazement a one followed by five zeros appeared.  Reading both sides of the ticket and the bag I realized that I had just won a thousand dollars. My daughter had no idea how much money a thousand dollars was but she could tell by my excitement that it was better than a free bag of chips.

  Too excited to keep the new to myself I called my mom and told her what happened.  She said she had gotten those kinds of things before and that I should read the small print because it probably said to mail it in for a chance to win.  I told her that I read everything but she still ended the call by saying that she hoped I was right.  My need to celebrate was not satisfied so I called my sister.  Her reaction was much the same and came with an additional warning about giving out my personal information or sending money.  It was only after I had received the check that everyone seemed willing to rejoice with me.

Knowing something wonderful but not being able to convince others that it is true is an awful feeling.  That’s how I feel about knowing the Lord.  I understand that people don’t want to believe what they cannot see so I have learned that all I can do is try to show his love and serve others in the hope that someday they may see Him in me and join my celebration.