Wednesday, September 27, 2006
 

Just When You Thought You Knew a Person


Hello, it's Bailey with you today. Kanner Lake is still getting a lot of publicity after the trauma from the summer. I know I've told the others not to say anything about all that, but I do want to say a few things about Paige Williams.

The first thing that anybody notices about Paige is her incredible beauty. Which is immediately followed by the realization that she doesn't seem to know it. She's beautiful on the inside, too. In the short time that I have known Paige I have never heard her say an unkind word about anybody. Trust me, when you work in a shop like mine you hear all kinds of things about people, good and bad alike.

Time has taught me through the years to not assume you know a person by what you hear. If that were true, S-man would have a larger than life reputation that would land him in the loony bin! But you get to know him and you realize he's a rather complex guy with a vivid imagination and subtle sense of humor.

Same goes for Wilbur. He may seem all prickly on the outside, but Wilbur was the one who showed up on my doorstep first after John's accident to help me do a few things around the house. He arrived one morning with his toolbox and lunch pail and told me to put him to work. Just like that.

Of course, I didn't know what to say. I just stood there, holding back tears. "Wilbur, how about you come in and have a cup of coffee with me before I head back to the hospital?"

Poor guy. He got this look on his face, like a toad looking up at a size thirteen tennis shoe bearing down fast. "Well, I . . . uh . . . I guess I could do that."

Wilbur has a heart of gold. Especially since his surgery. He won't like that I told you this though, so let's keep it between us, okay?

We love our own. Paige is no exception. So if you come here looking to stir up the dirt, just pay for your coffee and leave. Paige is part of our family and we look after our own around here. If you need a place to belong, do come by Java Joint. We'll try to make Kanner Lake feel like home to you, too.

-- Bailey

Posted by ~ Bailey Truitt @ 7:00 AM
Comments:
It's so neat how God gives us all different gifts. Some people show love by showing hospitality-- making everyone feel welcome like you do, Bailey. Others express love with a toolbox. I work best with a laptop keyboard or a pencil and paper. No matter what the gift, when we go ahead and use it, people are blessed. Thanks for using your gift, Bailey:) (and kudos to Wilbur too.)
Posted by Blogger batgirl : 6:00 AM
 
Bailey, someone told me about this post. Thank you.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:26 PM
 
Hey, Wilbur, I need some work done on my back deck. How 'bout coming over and bringing your tool box? I'll sit out in the back yard and watch.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:26 PM
 
I'll come over all right. And bring my tool box. Just watch what I do with it.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:27 PM
 
The truest you said about Wilbur was that he looked "like a toad."
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:29 PM
 
My goodness, where is everyone's manners. And Bailey wrote such a nice post. Bailey, don't you mind them--at least I heard what you said.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:30 PM
 
Yeah, I heard it, too. Especially the toad part.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:31 PM
 
Hey, don't be beating up on Wilbur. He's my bud.

We veterans stick together, in war and out.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 5:27 PM
 
I love the way you stick up for one another... well, some of you. A toad??!!! Anyway, that's what so awesome about small towns...I came from one, I know...
Posted by Blogger midspoint : 6:39 PM
 
I don't think S-Man would ever land in the loony bin. He doesn't seem crazy to me; he seems really, really fun and creative.

(Sorry I haven't commented in awhile, S-Man, but I'm baaaaack!)
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 7:40 PM
 
What I want to know is--what was in Wilbur's lunch pail?

(Something tells me it wasn't caviar and vichyssoise.)
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 7:50 PM
 
Okay, that does it. Pick on Wilbur all you want (he's a tough ol' bird), but the lunch pail IS and always has been MY responsibility. Wilbur never packed his own lunch in all the forty-five years I sent him off to work. LIke as not, his lunch pail that day carried a home-made chicken salad sandwich, home-baked chocolate chip cookies, some dill pickles slices and my own secret recipe of potato salad.

So THERE.
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 7:53 PM
 
You want to pack my lunch, Trudy? My wife doesn't do such a hot job . . .

(I kept this anonymous so I don't get my head chopped off.)
Posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 7:54 PM
 
Paige sounds like quite a beauty in every way.
Posted by Blogger David Meigs : 4:16 PM
 
What a fun bunch here in Kanner Lake and at the Java Joint. Toads, out-of-this-world writers, handymen, busybodies and all. LOL! Good thing Java Joint has tea, or I'd have a hard time finding a reason to keep hanging out here.

Everyone has a special gift, and the unique blend here is quite refreshing. My writing has never been better or more inspired.
Posted by Blogger Tiffany Amber Stockton : 4:02 PM
 
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