So Thursday is my Birthday. (Woohoo! Throwing fictitious confetti in the air!) Birthdays always make me think of times in my life where I made bold moves. Whether it was traveling to Montana for college, spending my first Christmas away in Bangkok or taking major relationship risks.
In all of this boldness, sometimes I forget the little moments. The times when I needed that extra push or a pick-me-up and an unexplainable gift came along. Here’s my favorite from November 2002.
It was early fall in Missoula, the University was buzzing with hippies folfing and me, so homesick. I missed the familiar torture of high school and my freshman year wasn’t going as planned. I didnt rule the school yet. More than that, I wasnt sure if I was making any of the right decisions in my life. Normal college freshman doldrums.
One veeerrrry cold late afternoon, a couple of days before my birthday, I decided to take a walk over the foot bridge and get an early celebratory pint of ice cream, cookie dough to be exact. I was wallowing. Being totally dramatic and completely depressed. Just sad.
As I walked across the bridge, a homeless man was coming toward me, casually, but directly enough to where I was a bit alarmed. Montana homeless are pretty chill, but you never know. He got about 3 feet away from me stopped and looked me in the eye. I thought he was going to ask for money and I was getting a little flustered. He said, “Excuse me miss, do you have a smile?” Smiled at me, then kept walking.
This is totally for real. I’m not making this up. I’ve had a few of these moments. I call them unexplainable gifts. I’m not sure if it’s karma, divine intervention or kismet and I dont really care. I’m just in love with the idea that I am warm enough to see, feel and appreciate these gifts when they come along.
I had a bit of an unexplainable gift today. Nothing major. As many of you know Sephora is my favorite store, so I went in for a little Birthday treat. I’ve been feeling a little blue (aka freaked out) that I am now on the late side of my 20s, with 30 around the corner. After browsing with nothing to show for it, I lingered around Nars. Picking up a soft touch shadow and trying it on. Loving it with confidence like spreading peacock feathers. The name of the color? “Skorpios.” Well, I’m a Scorpio. Perfect.
Watch for these unexplainable gifts. They bring smiles and a glow that only comes from a beautiful inside.
Cheers to all the Scorpios out there.
-Nell
2 responses so far ↓
Amy // December 17, 2009 at 2:57 am |
Hey Nell, your post reminded me of something that happened a few days ago. I was sitting at the train station and a guy walks out from one of the trains that had just arrived, comes up to the girl sitting next to me and asks, “Excuse me, where’s Charlie?”
She and I both exchange confused glances, she looks back at him and says, “What do you mean?” Then he says, “Where’s Charlie? Aren’t you one of his Angels?” and walked away with a smile. After he left, a woman sitting next to us said the guy has been doing that for years, but it just makes you appreciate how something so little can bring a new light to your day.
I hope you had a great birthday and look forward to another post soon!
Nell Ferragamo // December 17, 2009 at 6:34 pm |
Awww. That’s a cute story. So glad you had one of those moments! I promise there will be another post soon. December has run away with my time!
I appreciate you reading ThreeInchHeel Amy. Have a great holiday.
Nell