A guardian angel?
Matthew returned yesterday afternoon feeling sicker than the last four days. Poor thing... And, his suitcase was lost. He later received a call that it was found and it would be delivered between 10 p.m. and midnight. Since he needed his rest, I said I would stay up for it.
The short story -- he got his suitcase back.
The long story... As I stayed up, I knew that most likely the suitcase wouldn't be coming until midnight -- Murphy's Law, right? Well, I received a call, indeed close to midnight, and it was a gentleman who said that he'd been trying to find the apartment, but he couldn't... I couldn't blame him. For one, our mailing address doesn't match the actual apartment complex's street dress. And, let's face it, it's a maze!
I gave him the directions I normally give other people who try to find our place... And, he tried again...
Fifteen minutes later, he called again, saying he still can't find it.
I try to think of other details to give him and offer to wait outside the carport so he could see me.
Another 10 minutes pass... And, it was well past midnight and I'm trying not to let my imagination get the better of me as strange people walk past me. I do keep in mind to stand underneath a lighted area near the carport with my cell phone, but still, it was kind of creepy... But I wanted to make sure to take care of this so Matthew can continue resting -- again, he's sick.
Well, there are more phone call exchanges, blah-blah-blah... And, okay, I should also mention that it didn't appear that English was this man's first language -- Matthew figured he had an Eastern European accent...
I try again to stand in front of the carport... I see a dark figure coming toward my direction, and this figure isn't moving in a normal way -- in fact, quite slowly... I first wondered if it could be the guy that I was waiting for, but I didn't see any suitcase... The figure still moved very slowly... I wondered if I should have gone back to the apartment, but something told me not to be afraid...
Then the figure came into the light and it was a man probably my age with a walking cane. He wished me a good evening and wondered if I was okay. I told him my story and he brought up the point that there are three entrances to the building and that maybe I ought to stand closer to where the road is about to fork. I take up his advice, and he tells me that he'd be sure to walk around and see that I was fine.
I make it to the area, and even though I didn't want to wake up Matthew, I knew there'd be a very good chance the guy would call the landline again saying he was lost, waking up Matthew, and Matthew wondering where the hell I was, so I called Matthew. Sure enough, the guy did call again to say he was lost... It seemed that maybe the guy wanted me to meet him at the apartment signage which is further away... At this point, I'm more tired and more frustrated and a little more creeped out, and unfortunately, my voice broke a little when I spoke with Matthew, but I wanted to keep it together since I didn't want him to come outside...
The irony is, I don't mind actually walking around at this time of night, but my imagination... And, knowing there had been many more car break-ins...
So, I stand at the signage, and watch a few cars past by... Oh, and I should point out, I wasn't quite sure what kind of a vehicle I should be looking for -- I was assuming some kind of a delivery truck model...
More time passes, and I feel ridiculous... I begin to walk back, and the man I came across earlier finds me and tells me that the delivery guy just arrived. The delivery guy spots us and drives toward us in his black pick-up ... He comes out, and he's a man who looked to be in his early 60s... Poor guy... He said he was trying to find me for the last 40 minutes...
The delivery guy wanted me to sign something, and wouldn't you know it? The pen was dying!!! I wanted to laugh that there had to be one more thing to happen, but I know that the poor guy just wanted to move on, so I tried the best I can... Then, I got Matt's suitcase, and the delivery man was off...
The other man offered to help me, thinking that the other suitcases were Matthew's as well, but saw there was only one... But, he did begin to escort me back ... I tried to keep in mind not to walk too fast -- I tend to walk quite quickly -- since the man had a cane... We talked a little about how long we lived at the complex... He mentioned that he lived here with his girlfriend, and that he was recently in a car accident -- I assumed that's why he had a walking cane...
Right when we were about to reach my carport, Matthew appeared, with his hair disheveled and a face looking tired, sick and worried!!! I sooo didn't want him to come out, but yes, he was worried! I introduced Matthew to the man who I was beginning to think of as a sort of guardian angel... The man commented that Matthew and I were really the first people he talked to at this complex... I got his name -- Ray -- and thanked him profusely for his kindness... I was extremely touched that he would look after me, a stranger... We wished each other well, and parted ways...
I walked back with Matthew, and when we were inside, he gave me a long hug... Poor guy, he was so worried.
I tried to fall asleep, but kept thinking of the details of the evening... In fact, I wanted to write here right away, but I knew Matthew wanted me to just be with him -- and I wanted to make sure that he was able to fall asleep again -- poor thing, still sick...
Before I finally fell asleep, I recounted in my mind what happened during the evening and meeting Ray. As I write this entry, I am still filled with much thanks for him... Even though I like to think of myself as someone who can take care of herself, it was nice that I got to meet Ray -- I didn't realize he'd even still be around when the delivery guy finally arrived... The kindness of strangers, huh? :)
It's wonderful to have Matthew back home. Even though I did enjoy some "me" time, I'm happy he's back!
Hopefully, he'll be healthy enough to celebrate our second wedding anniversary tomorrow (it's deja vu, because he was sick at our last anniversary), but at least we'll be together for it!
Thanks to Marie and Alex for the beautiful card they sent -- and, Marie, thank you for making such a beautiful card!! And the message was soooo sweet!!! Awwwwww!!!
The short story -- he got his suitcase back.
The long story... As I stayed up, I knew that most likely the suitcase wouldn't be coming until midnight -- Murphy's Law, right? Well, I received a call, indeed close to midnight, and it was a gentleman who said that he'd been trying to find the apartment, but he couldn't... I couldn't blame him. For one, our mailing address doesn't match the actual apartment complex's street dress. And, let's face it, it's a maze!
I gave him the directions I normally give other people who try to find our place... And, he tried again...
Fifteen minutes later, he called again, saying he still can't find it.
I try to think of other details to give him and offer to wait outside the carport so he could see me.
Another 10 minutes pass... And, it was well past midnight and I'm trying not to let my imagination get the better of me as strange people walk past me. I do keep in mind to stand underneath a lighted area near the carport with my cell phone, but still, it was kind of creepy... But I wanted to make sure to take care of this so Matthew can continue resting -- again, he's sick.
Well, there are more phone call exchanges, blah-blah-blah... And, okay, I should also mention that it didn't appear that English was this man's first language -- Matthew figured he had an Eastern European accent...
I try again to stand in front of the carport... I see a dark figure coming toward my direction, and this figure isn't moving in a normal way -- in fact, quite slowly... I first wondered if it could be the guy that I was waiting for, but I didn't see any suitcase... The figure still moved very slowly... I wondered if I should have gone back to the apartment, but something told me not to be afraid...
Then the figure came into the light and it was a man probably my age with a walking cane. He wished me a good evening and wondered if I was okay. I told him my story and he brought up the point that there are three entrances to the building and that maybe I ought to stand closer to where the road is about to fork. I take up his advice, and he tells me that he'd be sure to walk around and see that I was fine.
I make it to the area, and even though I didn't want to wake up Matthew, I knew there'd be a very good chance the guy would call the landline again saying he was lost, waking up Matthew, and Matthew wondering where the hell I was, so I called Matthew. Sure enough, the guy did call again to say he was lost... It seemed that maybe the guy wanted me to meet him at the apartment signage which is further away... At this point, I'm more tired and more frustrated and a little more creeped out, and unfortunately, my voice broke a little when I spoke with Matthew, but I wanted to keep it together since I didn't want him to come outside...
The irony is, I don't mind actually walking around at this time of night, but my imagination... And, knowing there had been many more car break-ins...
So, I stand at the signage, and watch a few cars past by... Oh, and I should point out, I wasn't quite sure what kind of a vehicle I should be looking for -- I was assuming some kind of a delivery truck model...
More time passes, and I feel ridiculous... I begin to walk back, and the man I came across earlier finds me and tells me that the delivery guy just arrived. The delivery guy spots us and drives toward us in his black pick-up ... He comes out, and he's a man who looked to be in his early 60s... Poor guy... He said he was trying to find me for the last 40 minutes...
The delivery guy wanted me to sign something, and wouldn't you know it? The pen was dying!!! I wanted to laugh that there had to be one more thing to happen, but I know that the poor guy just wanted to move on, so I tried the best I can... Then, I got Matt's suitcase, and the delivery man was off...
The other man offered to help me, thinking that the other suitcases were Matthew's as well, but saw there was only one... But, he did begin to escort me back ... I tried to keep in mind not to walk too fast -- I tend to walk quite quickly -- since the man had a cane... We talked a little about how long we lived at the complex... He mentioned that he lived here with his girlfriend, and that he was recently in a car accident -- I assumed that's why he had a walking cane...
Right when we were about to reach my carport, Matthew appeared, with his hair disheveled and a face looking tired, sick and worried!!! I sooo didn't want him to come out, but yes, he was worried! I introduced Matthew to the man who I was beginning to think of as a sort of guardian angel... The man commented that Matthew and I were really the first people he talked to at this complex... I got his name -- Ray -- and thanked him profusely for his kindness... I was extremely touched that he would look after me, a stranger... We wished each other well, and parted ways...
I walked back with Matthew, and when we were inside, he gave me a long hug... Poor guy, he was so worried.
I tried to fall asleep, but kept thinking of the details of the evening... In fact, I wanted to write here right away, but I knew Matthew wanted me to just be with him -- and I wanted to make sure that he was able to fall asleep again -- poor thing, still sick...
Before I finally fell asleep, I recounted in my mind what happened during the evening and meeting Ray. As I write this entry, I am still filled with much thanks for him... Even though I like to think of myself as someone who can take care of herself, it was nice that I got to meet Ray -- I didn't realize he'd even still be around when the delivery guy finally arrived... The kindness of strangers, huh? :)
It's wonderful to have Matthew back home. Even though I did enjoy some "me" time, I'm happy he's back!
Hopefully, he'll be healthy enough to celebrate our second wedding anniversary tomorrow (it's deja vu, because he was sick at our last anniversary), but at least we'll be together for it!
Thanks to Marie and Alex for the beautiful card they sent -- and, Marie, thank you for making such a beautiful card!! And the message was soooo sweet!!! Awwwwww!!!