My inspiration today actually came from a lady’s T-shirt I spied while checking out at Walmart. The drudgery of walking back and forth from one end of the store to another (more than one time mind you because something was missed on the list or thought of after the fact) finally ended or so I thought. OOPS! Forgot the cream cheese and sour cream for the cheesecake:>(
[Hubby bakes KILLER cheesecakes for friends and family on birthdays and one is coming up next week.]
He waits in line while I trudge one more time to the lower forty for the forgotten items. Along the way, I see the graham crackers needed for the crust and don’t remember if we have any at home. Grabbed a box plus a box of powdered milk. Needed four 8-oz packages cream cheese and one 8-oz carton sour cream. Got those. Turned to head back to checkout and noticed the butter. Oh, dear, do we have extras in the freezer? Not sure, snatched up one pound. Made a right-hand final turn toward the front of the store and there it was – Hershey’s Syrup in the can! Glaring down at me with imaginative signs of oozing chocolate waiting to be licked! [When hubby bakes cheesecakes there is always enough for a tiny cheesecake sample for all the hard work. Wouldn’t that thick, rich Hershey’s Syrup be great drizzled over the top? And, o-o-o-oh, it is so much better in the can and not always available or that easy to find.]
Reinactment!
Now, remember, I already have a box of graham crackers and one of powdered milk, four 8-oz packages cream cheese, one 8-oz carton sour cream, and one pound butter. What’s one more item? Shifting the items, cradling them in my arms which are crossed hoping to keep everything secure, I slowly turn my body to the right, reach up with my right hand that is only mobile from the wrist to the fingers, and voila I ease the can off the rack onto the pile and neatly tuck it under my chin. Only thing left is the walk down the longest aisle of the store to checkout where hopefully hubby is patiently waiting. It was definitely the longest aisle and took the longest time to trek than any other during the entire shopping spree.
Whew! Almost there. Hubby is in sight and thank goodness he is the next in line for the conveyor belt. That was in my favor. He hates lines and if he had to let someone ahead because I was taking too long, heaven forbid! As he turned his head and spotted me coming toward him, all I could hear was this roar of laughter as he (not whisperingly) exclaimed, “That’s my wife, octopus arms!”
I know by now you are wondering what all of this has to do with the lady and her T-shirt…
As all of the items plummeted from my arms onto the conveyor belt. I turned around to begin unloading the grocery cart. That is when I spotted the lady and focused on her T-shirt. Think about it. Had I not gone back for the forgotten items and took the amount of time I did as I spotted other items along the way hubby and I would have already been out of Walmart and on our way home never having seen the lady, the T-shirt or read its message.
All of a sudden thoughts of how everyone is so in tune with today’s advancements in technology, gizmos, gagentry and gear, ‘techie’ tips at every turn, flooded my mind centering on how appearances of hearts and minds no longer yearn for the simple things in life. One cannot leave home without a cell phone, Tablet, iPad, iPod or as I just learned about yesterday, the Livescribe Smartpen. They have become as much a part of daily life as the quill and scroll, pen and paper of yesteryear, used to be. Where messages and love notes were once penned, now they are texted. In other words, where messages and love notes were once hand written, now they are generated electronically.
Are you seeing a connection? Recall the title of this post, The Original Text Message?
It was these words, The Original Text Message, that appeared across the front of the T-shirt. Why was I so focused on those words? I don’t even text. In fact, I had text-messenging added to my new cell phone over six months ago in order to receive a code for activation. Received the code along with 500 ‘free’ whatever and I haven’t used it since. I do have a computer (in fact, two, desktop and laptop) but no iPad, iPod or the newly learned Livescribe Smartpen. [The pen does seem worth investigating. I hate losing random thoughts.]
The lady with the T-shirt obviously felt my stare. I abruptly stopped unloading the grocery cart, totally oblivious of anyone else in line and as I walked toward her, she began to walk toward me. . .
OMG! There it was! The message and its true meaning. . .
The Original Text Message
Thank you for visiting catnipoflife. . .Please leave a comment!
catnipoflife 
Neat one. I wear “Jesus tees” every day. I love the comments!
Thanks for visiting, Peggy! Do come back. . .I love comments”:>)
Sharla,
I’ve had days like this with no great message lol. I sure hope the cheesecake was worth it–but then of course it was. Best text that’s ever existed or ever will. I love the look on your face–a lot like my cat when I forget to feed him 🙂
Love, Micki
Well, you can see I am two, OOPS!, three days behind in replying! Glad you enjoyed the post and yep, Jim really captured the expression! He will actually back the cheesecake tomorrow for the birthday on the 24th. LOL:>)
I love it! I love the T-Shirt logo, but actually, I’m still hung up back on the cheesecake–do you think your husband could make an extra one for your loyal group members? A cyber cheesecake–I think we’re on to something BIG here!
Jim has gotten the biggest kick out of the comments about the cheesecake:>) What we need to do is plan a ‘gathering’ where we can all actually meet over coffee and cheesecake (um-m-m-m? Wine and cheesecake?). Wouldn’t that be grand? Wonder what would be a central location. . .have I planted a seed?
Sharla, I have to agree, I keep thinking about the can of chocolate and the cheesecake and what a gooey mess and so delicious treat it would be. Great message but I could use a slice of heaven too! Great story.
Rosemary
I am telling you. . .it is the best ever! He actually took a recipe of mine and has perfected it:>) He loves to cook and I love for him to cook! LOL:>)
Interesting article and nice photograph of you. So this cake it was good? Have a good day
Don’t know yet but they always are! He will be baking it tomorrow for the birthday on the 24th:>)
Very interesting. Though I’m from this generation, I don’t crave for any of those frenzy things. I’m actually very old-school and I love things that serve the purpose rather than adding the ‘techno’ element to it. Nice article and those are two nice photos.
Now that is interesting. . .you not being into the techie gizmos! Sometimes I feel they are more of a menace that a benefit! LOL:>)
I’m quite old school, you should see my about me page, you’ll know a lot. Sssh don’t tell this to anyone 😛
I’m not a text person either… I loved your article and your philosophy.
Jen, thank you for visiting and glad you enjoyed the post:>)
what a relief to find others who can text and don’t do ipod and the rest. On the other hand, love your pic with an arm full of goodies, great story thank you!
Glad you enjoyed! My husband is still laughing!
Great story! love the details and the reinactment photo!
Thanks, Marla. I think I enjoyed hubby taking the photo as much as anything! Thanks for stopping by:>)
I had some serious serendipity moment going on there in the store! LOL
Quite an experience from beginning to end:>) cathip appreciates your visit and leaving comments…meow…pur-r-r-r:>)
Say Hi to Cathip… Meow…pur-r-r-r… I am learning a new language here:)
Can’t believe I misspelled my own name. s/b catnip:>) LOL
Catnip, Meowwww…lol Have a beautiful day!
Say Hi to Cathip… Meow…pur-r-r-r… I am learning a new language here:)
[…] My inspiration today actually came from a lady’s T-shirt I spied while checking out at Walmart. The drudgery of walking back and forth from one end of the store to another (more than one time… […]
[…] My inspiration today actually came from a lady’s T-shirt I spied while checking out at Walmart. The drudgery of walking back and forth from one end of the store to another (more than one time… […]
Reblogged this on Serendipity and commented:
This sound so like me … It made me laugh, and maybe, you’ll laugh a little too.
I am so glad we connected:>) I am behind in reading your posts but I WILL get caught up. I have been playing ‘catch-up’ on ScoopIt. Have you tried that yet? It is pretty neat:>) I have been working on the post for the teepee and I think I will just ScoopIt! LOL:>)
Reblogged this on Greatpoetrymhf's Weblog.