At least I made someone smile

So, my days are getting increasingly more crappy. I seem to fall apart over the littlest things anymore. I've done more crying this past month than I did the previous few years put together. I know I'm getting close to a breaking point and I try each day to find at least one thing to keep me going.

So, today, just as I was about to fall apart, I happened upon a woman in my Kroger store's frozen food section. She had the tell-tale head wrap of someone going through Cancer treatment. There was a section of Pink Ribbon items in the middle of the aisle and I could see her getting a little emotional as she rummaged through the bins.

As she came to realize I was looking at her she got that look. You know, the one that says, "Please don't look at me like I'm a contagious." So I quickly smiled and went on my way wondering if she thought I was a psycho or something.

I checked out and as I was loading my items in my backseat I remembered I had swiped a bunch of "I survived" pins from the Macomb County Making Strides kick-off party. I dug down in my bag and found one and spied the lady pushing her cart into the cart corral a few lanes away. I got in my car and pulled over to her lane and got out and walked up to her car. Now I'm sure she thinks I'm a psycho. Who wouldn't?

I held my hands up to show her I meant no harm and then as she rolled her window down I apologized for staring, introduced myself and told her I noticed her looking at the Pink Ribbon stuff. She guffawed and said that if she broght another pink item home her husband would probably throttle her. I asked her if she knew that the American Cancer Society has resources to help patients and their families deal with a diagnosis. She said yes, she was already getting help from them.

Then I showed her the button and asked her if I could give it to her. She looked up at me with a hint of a tear in her eyes and nodded her head. She reached out with one hand and took the button, and with the other, grabbed my arm and said "Thank you!" I gave her a flier for "Making Strides" and walked back to my car.

It took me a few minutes to recompose myself. I may have had a really crappy day today, but for just a moment, I felt like a hero!