bethoffreshair

awe.

Setting: Driving home from work across the Courtney Campbell Causeway while the sun is setting. On the radio: A song I’ve never heard by an artist I adore, Audrey Assad. If I had been walking, this song would’ve stopped me in my tracks. And I didn’t slam on my brakes because the Courtney Campbell CausewayContinue reading “awe.”

12 passengers.

A couple of wanderlusts around my age came in to the store with a twinkle in their eyes. They were getting ready for an adventure, flying off to their own Neverland. They had both quit their jobs days before and were trying on boots and backpacks for an All Around America roadtrip. Once they completeContinue reading “12 passengers.”

long live israel!

On my brief walk (hop, skip, and a jump really) from work to Starbucks, 90% of the time, there is a middle aged man with cool dreadlocks sitting on his favorite bench. The first time I walked by, he said “hello.” I said the same. I walked a few more yards and he yelled, “You’reContinue reading “long live israel!”

orange.

A medium sized man walked in to the store today with a XXL fishing shirt tucked into his shorts, so much so that the bottoms of the shirt pockets fell right at his belt. He was holding a rolled up orange rain fly. He held it up like it was a trophy he had justContinue reading “orange.”

coffee cup sleeves.

Oprah’s quote on my Starbucks Americano cup reads: “Be more splendid. Be more extraordinary. Use every moment to fill yourself up.” My first cynical thought was “duh, Oprah.” But really, when I over-analyze it, like I do with most things, I realized why it was so true and why Oprah has been successful enough toContinue reading “coffee cup sleeves.”

grouper nuggets.

Mindy sent me a message on Monday night that read: “My dad has two extra tickets to a concert at the Jaeb Theatre and he wants us to go with him.” I said yes immediately even though I didn’t know who was playing, because Mindy and her dad, Jim, have excellent taste in music (inContinue reading “grouper nuggets.”

glee.

While waiting for customers to come into the store, I was chatting with my coworkers and giving myself a pep talk. “I will not spend money on these nice things with my nice discount. I do not need anything. Do not let me buy anything, guys! Well, all I really need is a day pack.”Continue reading “glee.”

abnormally tall fixtures.

I started work today at the outfitters store. Learning a new place full of new people and new products results in a bit of information overload. I know within a couple weeks it’ll all be normal, like using your ring finger to hit your blinker as you steer. Today was very positive. I feel likeContinue reading “abnormally tall fixtures.”

darn kids.

Last week, I was sitting with a two-year-old baby. His grandma was still in the house before heading to work. I grabbed a puzzle and she said, “Oh that one is really hard. I shouldn’t have ever gotten it. Too hard.” Of course this made me want to dominate the puzzle. Each piece was aContinue reading “darn kids.”

outfitters.

I met with Mars Hill University’s newest major gift officer a couple weeks ago. We were “welcomed to Moe’s!” and then hit it off by instantly naming places we loved in Asheville. He’s from the Bay area and is loving his new mountain home near Mars Hill. I mentioned that I was looking for workContinue reading “outfitters.”