A Wal*Mart Christmas Miracle: (and a good read if you want to see just how idiotic I can be)

Here is a Christmas miracle story for you, and true. So very true. (Maybe I should write it as a Christmas book , like "The Christmas Box" or "The Christmas Sweater" or "The Christmas Jar." Why do all the Christmas books have to be called "The Christmas________"? Maybe I should call it "The Christmas Checkout Line.")

So here is goes. Last week was just nutso for me! The week before Christmas requires a ton of work. If you are a mom, you already know this. If you are like my husband, you do not completely understand what all the fuss is about: gifts for teachers (we have a LOT of teachers!) and friends, sending packages to loved ones far away, Christmas cards, (mine require a lot of work), cooking and baking, shopping, shopping, and more shopping. Then throw in all those last-week-of-school activities, parties, programs, and concerts, and all the goodies and gifts that accompany them. But don't discount the regular weekly activities and homework that must carry on despite the festivities. And in my case, toss in a week full of dental appointments carelessly planned 6 months ago (no wonder they had openings that week!), and a hubby who decides last minute to have elective knee surgery that week, leaving him propped on the couch while I run around like a crazy lady not only to care for him in his convalescence, but leaving me with one less driver (it was his right knee, don't you know?) to get everyone everywhere.

Yep. My week was nuts.

I was nuts.

Let that be understood. (If you have ever read the classic Christmas miracle story, "A Christmas Carol" you know Dickens starts by assuring us, under no uncertain terms, that Marley was most positively dead, just as I must assure you now that I was most certainly out of my mind crazy busy!)

It was Wednesday, the day after Dennis knee surgery, and the twins needed to be a scouts at 5. I dropped them off and had a whole hour to get a list full of shopping done at Wal*Mart before I had to pick them up. To make things easier, I had predetermined to pick up some dinner for us at the deli there, but when I first walked in the door, the line at the deli counter was rather long, so I decided to get my other shopping done first, then come back to the deli at the end. So I ran all over the giant superstore crossing random essential items off my list: cello bags for the cheese balls, mini marshmallows, something for the male teachers, filo dough, mailing tape, and heavy cream, all the while scanning the store hoping for some inspiration on what to give my husband for Christmas. When I looked at my clock, time was almost up and I went to the checkout line.

It was long.

So I waited in line, and when I finally got close to the counter I loaded all my stuff on the conveyor belt while a lady in front paid. There was an old man behind her, but he only had one item.

Then suddenly, I remembered I was going to get dinner at the deli! I did NOT want to have to get home and try to figure out something - not this night. So I pulled out of line, explaining to the lady behind me that I had forgotten something.

I had left the line, fully intending on going to the deli and then getting into another line when I was ready.

I went to the deli - there was still a line. Waited. Then placed my order and waited while she carefully measured and weighed my food and printed the label. She handed me my food and when I put it in my basket was SHOCKED to realize all my merchandise was gone! It took my crazed mind a moment to realize where it had gone! Then I remembered: I had loaded it onto the conveyor belt already!!!

My first instinct was to avoid embarrassment and go get all new stuff and go to a checkout counter on the other end of the store, but I had no time for that. What a coward I am!

So I ran back over to my previous lane and the old man with one item who was in front of me was still there. He saw me and was waving me over to come quickly. I did! I ruhsed over to them gushing about how sorry I was, and how I had forgotten that I had already unloaded my cart, and how I had not meant to leave everyone standing there so long!

I sounded like a complete idiot, which, I suppose, I was.

Oh my, that was a long line of folks waiting for me!!!

When I got to the front of the line, the old man just smiled and said, "I stalled them for ya," with a wink, and walked out the door.

I had fully expected to find all my stuff shoved aside or under the counter, so that the cashier could run others through the line, but the cashier had already rung up all my stuff, and bagged it. While I made my payment I explained, again, furiously, to all the folks behind me how sorry I was and how I had honestly not meant to hold anyone up. The lady behind me, who had a ton of kids in tow, poor thing, was so sweet about it. "I know exactly how you feel. You have probably been everywhere today like me, huh? Driving all over town trying to do a million things at once? I completely understand." The folks behind her, all assented in agreement and smiled at me in full understanding.

Thus the miracle.

I mean, I had not just run off to grab one forgotten item off a shelf, in hopes of returning before it was my turn. I had left fully intending not to return, and I was gone a full 5 to 10 minutes!

I know that if I had been in that line, I would have been FURIOUS, especially on a busy day like this.

But all I got from everyone were smiles and looks of understanding.

The cashier handed me my receipt. "Merry Christmas," she said.

"Merry Christmas," I replied, and "thank you and sorry again," to the good people in line behind me. Then I rushed out of the store to go pick up my kids. (This time I did not leave my merchandise behind!)

I realized I had just witnessed a simple, yet profound Christmas miracle of love and generosity in the hearts of complete strangers who were probably every bit as busy and stressed out as I was.

What I had experienced was miracle of the real possibility that Peace on Earth and Goodwill To Men, really can, and does, exist on this Earth.

I know. I saw it in the checkout line of Wal*Mart.