Girls Day Out

My girlfriend, Lori (http://heartofgod.wordpress.com/), who now lives in Texas, just wrote a blog titled: Belly Laughter. The blog is based on a conversation we had a couple of days ago. It was a serious conversation gone south! By the time we hung up the phone I had laughed so hard that my face and stomach were in serious pain. Don't you just love that? It is absolutely true that laughter is the best medicine!

Lori and I have been blessed to have many of those moments. It seems that when we get together, whether on the phone or in person, things just kind of 'happen'. Random things that are usually hysterical....at least to us:) There is one thing in particular that still sends us into a fit of laughter everytime we think about it. I wasn't going to blog about it because I thought it might be a 'you had to be there' thing, but Lori thinks we should share. So, if it's not funny....blame her!

One of the many things that Lori and I have in common is a love for shopping. Her husband would often offer to watch our children on Saturdays so her and I could go to the city and have a 'girls day'. One of our favorite places to go was a large Christian book store named Parables. If you have never been to Parables, then let me set the scene:

Parables is a very peaceful place. It is much like a Christian "Borders". There are tons of books, gifts, and music. ALL of it is Christian. You don't have to worry about having your 'filter' on when you are there. Everybody is friendly and quiet....kind of like a library. We could, literally, spend hours in there. There are chairs for reading, a coffee shop, and Scripture everywhere you turn. I am hoping there is one in Heaven:)

So, one day as Lori and I are standing in the check out line talking about how we really shouldn't be spending this much money at one place, we began to listen to a conversation between two ladies behind us. It wasn't that we were eavesdropping, but the one lady seemed to be quite irritated and began talking a little louder. She was talking about the war. She had a son or nephew or someone close to her in Iraq. Well, here is how the rest of the conversation went (please keep in mind that we are in a CHRISTIAN bookstore):

Lady 1: I used to have one of those yellow ribbon magnets on my car with his name on it.

Lady 2: What happened to it?

Lady 1: Somebody stole it!

Lady 2: You're kidding. That's ridiculous!

Lady 1: I know! Can you believe it? Those Bastards!!!!!!

I will never forget the look on Lori's face as we heard that word! Immediately we began to crack up. We were trying so hard to hold it in because we didn't want the ladies behind us to know we were laughing at them, but we couldn't. Next thing you know Lori and I are doubled over, with tears streaming down our faces, gasping for air. As a matter of fact....I'm starting to chuckle just thinking about it. It was absolutely the last thing you would have expected to hear at Parables. Not that 'bastard' is an awful word. There are plenty that are worse, but when you're in Parables, it's almost like being at church....everyone is on their best behavior. I don't know why....that's just how it is. This lady was just being herself....which is how it should be!

I miss you, friend! I hope God crosses our paths soon. There are plenty more 'belly laughs' awaiting us!!!!