Orange Monkey

I was watching Oprah a few weeks ago. Celine Dion was a guest on the show. The show was about women's beauty and Celine's world tour, connecting to women of all races, cultures and ages through her music. But that's not what this post is about.

On that show there was a scene where Celine got a call and though we couldn't hear what was being said on the other line, it was an important call and she began crying. Later we learned that while in a hotel somewhere, her son had left his bunny in bed and they had left it. Well, the call she received was from the hotel saying the bunny was found. At the time, I thought, "how ridiculous. Why would this crazy lady cry tears of joy because the bunny was found when her 9 year-old son really honestly didn't seem to care the bunny went missing at all."

Now I feel her pain. Friday morning I had a to-do list a page long; as did my mom. Mom had been talking about going through KP's toys to organize and get rid of what wasn't used. She had four piles to give away. Three of the four were put into paper sacks and set at the top of the stairs. The other was put into a little brown basket. The toys in the little brown basket were sentimental gifts and toys, and expensive and not worn toys that we couldn't really truly get rid of but instead set aside for Valen.

When Saturday morning came alone, Kinley had a play date with the grandson of our neighbor and Mom's friend. So me and Mom took Kinley to play with Jake. (They had a great time by the way! Best play date ever but that's for another day.)

We left and Mom had left instructions for Dad to take care of the toys we were getting rid of. (Kinley didn't approve 100% of everything we were getting rid of.) So the toys were taken to Goodwill while we were gone.

You probably know where this story is going...The brown basket was taken along with the rest of the toys. Upon discovering this terrible mishap, Dad and I went to the Goodwill immediately to see if we wouldn't get our toys back. We told the story to two people before talking to Tammy Johnson, the store manager. She walked into the room we were in with a chip on her shoulder and a crooked look on her face. She was irritated and rude from the moment we met. She began explaining how a truck had come and salvaged all the toys. Even though she didn't know when the truck had come or if our stuff was brought in before or after it came. And it wasn't until 10 minutes into our conversation, no, argument, that I brought it to her attention that she didn't even know what exactly we were looking for.

To make a long story short, we were unable to get the toys back and Tammy being a jerk just made matters worse. I cried the entire way home and plotted against her. I decided I'd call corporate and file a complaint against her. Maybe she'll get lots of complaints and loose her job then learn to treat people with respect and have some compassion. Maybe she'll learn to show appreciation to people who are donating their things! Maybe she'll learn you can't act like you own the place where you are a measly minimum wage employee who with a criminal record and Goodwill was the only company who would hire you. Maybe you should do a better job for Goodwill since they gave you that job you don't deserve. Maybe... I'm the biggest jerk in the world for having all of these thoughts about Tammy.

Don't get me wrong, first thing Monday morning I will still call to complain about the way Tammy Johnson treated me and Dad, and NEVER AGAIN will I donate my belongings to a Goodwill; but my terrible, judgmental, ostracizing thoughts and rude comments were entirely inappropriate.

Thankfully, although undeserving, I have been forgiven. Even though it's different I'm going to pretend that scripture about what we leave behind on earth, will be multiplied in heaven applies here. Also, we are told, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" in Colossians 3:2. I know it's silly but I can't help but miss that sweet little orange monkey I swear Kinley never outgrew. She'll probably never miss it but I'll loose it next picture I come across with that monkey in her arms.

So Celine, I'm sorry for the harsh judgment and the rude thoughts I had when you showed such emotion for your son's bunny. I feel your pain and wish my story had the happy ending yours did on Oprah.