Have you ever had that morning where the alarm clock rang, you woke up and before your feet hit the floor you knew exactly what the day had in-store?

You knew because, after all, you had planned it out-mentally- right down to the hour of the setting sun.

And then, when that day was over, and the sun finally did set, that twenty-four-hour period that you so meticulously planned out, took somewhat of a detour…

That’s what happened on Friday, January 13^th 2017, which also happened to be my (spoiler alert) 46^th birthday.

We had been back from our Cleveland visit for a few days, and my son would be heading back to college on Sunday.  I refused to even think about Cleveland, my heart, or anything of the sort until after he left. I became rather a pro at procrastinating things, so these last couple of days would certainly be no exception.

I didn’t particularly have any high expectations for that day. It was my day to pick up my granddaughter, Lilly, from preschool, so I just figured we would have a chill day at home.  I had planned to do a little family dinner with cupcakes for the kids that evening, but that was basically it.

My son, Aaron, had a haircut appointment and he actually suggested riding into town with me, we pick Lilly up from preschool and have a lunch out! That sounded good to me, especially since both he and Lilly agreed on a Chick-Fil-A lunch. Given the choice, Lilly’s dining preference is always and unfortunately, McDonald’s. Not to bash McD’s, but considering how often we visit, lunch at Chick-Fil-A was a birthday present in itself!

After the haircut was over, Lilly proposed an idea:

“Today’s your birthday, right NeNe?”

“Yes Lilly, it is.”

“Why don’t we do something extra special… like go to our fancy grocery store?!”

 

“Our fancy grocery store” would be the area Fresh Market.

 

We tend to go there for special occasions, sometimes for a bottle of Orangina when the mood hits us, or if we have a hankering for a piece of European chocolate or fancy French lemonade. They also have an olive bar that my son loves, and plus, it was in the same shopping plaza as our local cup cake-ry where I could grab a couple cupcakes too.

 

It was unanimous! A birthday would certainly warrant a trip to the Fresh Market!

 

After parking, we ended up getting a bit distracted and browsing in the “Hippie Store” and a few other specialty shops.

It was a good day with these two. I felt very blessed.

 

But Alas…. Time flies when you’re having fun!

 

I realized it was getting much later than I thought, and we hadn’t even made it to the cupcake shop or Fresh Market yet.

We hit the cupcake shop first and as quickly as we could (with a five-year-old anyway) made our cupcake selections, checked out and headed down the sidewalk to the Fresh Market.

I explained that time was getting away from us, so we would quickly grab a couple things and then we needed to get home in time to cook dinner before my daughter, grandson and husband arrived.

 

Strangely enough, we found ourselves in front of their beautifully displayed case of desserts.

 

According to Lilly, “a birthday is an extra special time, so an extra dessert or two couldn’t hurt!”

In other words, she really wanted one, maybe two, of the elegantly decorated petit fours…

Ok, I’m a sucker.

 

The dinner hour was quickly approaching, and I was trying to hurry her along. As my son and I began to give her our opinions, (“the pink ones are definitely the fanciest!”) I heard a voice over my shoulder, “Those strawberry tarts are the best dessert you will ever taste! Mark my word!”

I looked around to see a very striking and petite lady, maybe in her early to mid-seventies, directing her statement to me.

 

“I went to a dinner party once where my friend had served these for dessert, and I’ve never had anything more delicious!” She said pointing to the ornately decorated tarts that overflowed with strawberries and some kind of whipped fluffy goodness.

“You should try them!” She said with a smile.

Trying to avoid a lengthy conversation and beat the clock in time for dinner, I politely answered,

“I will keep that in mind for next time, I’m afraid she is dead set on these fancy little cakes today!”

It would be stretching it, but if we left now, we would have time to get home and possibly have dinner ready before all arrived.

Thinking we were ‘home free,’ I started to reach for the two pink petit fours that the pastry chef had packaged, when all of a sudden Lilly announced to, I’m guessing anyone that was within a half- mile radius of the dessert window, that she “Had to poop! And NOW!”

I looked at Aaron and he nodded that he would finish up our shopping and meet us at the restrooms.

I thanked the lady that offered her dessert recommendation, and with a chuckle, she gave me a slight wave.

In case you have forgotten, or perhaps you may not even know, nothing is quick with an inquisitive five-year-old.

 

As much as I needed this to be a quick trip to the ladies’ room, it turned into a formal Q & A session on the different types of soaps and hand dryers placed in public restrooms.

In between trying to explain why some bathrooms have paper towels vs the hand dryers and which I personally preferred, I was beginning to rethink my dinner menu and convert it into something that required less prep.

 

After finally finishing up, we exited the restroom and found Aaron midway from the checkout lane where he was still talking with the lady from the dessert counter.

 

One thing I can say about my son is that he does, even at his young adult age, realize the importance of people and giving them your time.

As Lilly and I reached them, I heard my son say to her, “Well, I will be praying for you.”

She thanked him. She then looked at Lilly and giggled and asked her if she felt better, to which Lilly shyly nodded yes.

Next, she turned to me, “How blessed you are to have such a wonderful son and sweet little granddaughter!”

I smiled and thanked her.

“We’ve had quite the chat during your bathroom break!” She laughed.

“I was just telling your son, Aaron, that I had my first round of chemo therapy today.”

I looked at her. I didn’t know what to say. I felt dumbfounded.

At this point, dinner or time meant nothing.

An “I’m sorry” came out of my mouth, and I suddenly second-guessed my response.

“Oh! Don’t be sorry!” she responded. “The nurses up there, they were so good and sweet to me! They even made me laugh! I can’t wait to go back!”

I still didn’t know how to respond, thankfully she did most of the talking.

“Your son also told me about your heart and the surgery you have to get done soon.”

I looked at Aaron.

Had we really been gone that long for these two to talk about so much?

She continued,

“But I want you to know you’re gonna be ALL-RIGHT!” making the one word into two as if to stress her certainty.

“I just know it! You’re gonna be JUST FINE! You know how I know?”

I shook my head.

“Because it sounds like you have two good men that are gonna take very good care of you, just like I do!” She laughed again.

“You know, my husband brought me here today just to buy me roses? He says the roses here are the most beautiful and fragrant in this whole town, and he said it was worth the trip!”

 

I felt my eyes swell up with hot tears.

 

We exchanged stories about our children and grandchildren, her remaining bright and chipper through each tale. Lilly intrigued by her the whole time.

I felt guilty. Ten minutes ago, all I was worried about was getting home to cook dinner.

Now I could care less if we ate cupcakes and petit fours in the car.

An older gentleman, standing in front of the checkout lanes and holding the biggest and most beautiful bouquet of pink and fuchsia roses I had ever seen, began waving to her.

She held up the one finger gesture signaling to give her one more minute.

He smiled shaking his head at her as if she stops and chats like this with all those she meets.

The love in his eyes for her was evident.

“Like Aaron said, we will be praying for you. I didn’t catch your name?”

“It’s Jeanie, dear, and Valerie I will be praying for YOU!”

“Jeanie, can I ask you something?”

“Of course!” She said.

“What kind of, you know, cancer is it that you have?”

She pointed to her head, “Oh honey,” she said with just as much positivity and chipperness as she had maintained throughout the conversation, “It’s the bad kind… But don’t you worry! I know, no matter what, I am in good hands here,” she said glancing at her husband, “and up there!”  pointing up above.

Her husband made a comical motion pointing to his watch as if to say she would be here all night if he would allow.

“Oh, he’s ready for me!”  She said laughing.

“I’m not worried ONE BIT! And neither should YOU!”

She gave me a quick hug and we all parted ways.

 

I asked myself how in the world could this lady be facing what she was and have this incredible outlook on her situation?

 

The answer was she had faith.

 

Faith in her doctors and nurses and husband and children who would care for her, and more importantly, she had faith in her Heavenly Father.

It was clear Miss Jeanie knew who was in control.

Misty-eyed, we made our way back to the car, and I helped Lilly into her car seat. Once we were all inside, we decided to take turns and say individual prayers out loud for Miss Jeanie.

 

The happiness she had in her heart all while she was enduring so much was amazing.

It was an eye opener.

That was the attitude to have.

To be like Miss Jeanie.

 

I still think about her and pray for her often.

So while yes, Friday January 13^th 2017 didn’t go as I had premeditated, it turned out to be so much more and a birthday I will never forget.

My mom used to say that some of the best things that happen in life, aren’t planned.

And who would have guessed that a simple spontaneous trip to “our fancy grocery store” would serve as such a blessing, through meeting a very special lady named Miss Jeanie.