Did I Do the Right Thing?

I apologize for neglecting my blog. I was on vacation earlier this month and spent most of this week catching up on other things here at work. I’ll restart with one of my favorite subjects: “Did I do the right thing?”

I pulled into the drive thru at one of several Dunkin Donuts that I frequent on a recent night and ordered a large regular coffee. As I started toward the window, I reached down into the console for the small wallet I carry my debit card in and noticed it wasn’t there. Stopping about half way to the window, I reached into my pockets and then checked to make sure the wallet hadn’t slipped between the console and the seat or onto the floor. It took another few seconds to realize I also had no cash and way less than a dollar in change. Feeling embarrassed that I couldn’t pay for the coffee I ordered, I briefly considered pulling away but realized that would be rude to the teen-ager who had just taken my order. So I drove up, rolled down my window and sheepishly admitted that I left my debit card at home. It was kind of rolling stop because I wanted to pull away quickly. Before I could rush off he said: “No problem. Take the coffee anyway.”
I was surprised because in world of franchises and big box stores, employees and customers don’t often get to know each other. Giving away something for free is usually done by an employee who recognizes a regular customer. Even though I go to Dunkin Donuts three or four times a week, I visit different outlets at different times and can’t say I’ve gotten to know any of the staff.
I don’t like to accept things I can’t pay for, but he had a big smile on his face and it seemed he really wanted me to take the coffee so I figured I’d compromise. “I live a couple of miles from here so I’ll come back and pay.”
He replied: “You don’t need to. Just enjoy your coffee and have a nice night.”
I took the coffee, thanked him and didn’t return.

It seems like a small thing, but my gut tells me I should have returned to pay or the next time I go to that branch offer to pay.
Did I do the right thing in accepting the freebie?

Let me know what you think.

Teens Out Too Much?

Since school ended, we’ve been allowing our sons, 16 and 14, to go out nearly every night. They either go to the movies, a friend’s house, supervised party, etc. Nothing out of line so far. My 14-year-old’s curfew is 10:30 or 11, p.m., my older son gets to stay out to 11:30, occasionally midnight.

I understand they are teens and it is summer, but having them out almost every night is starting to wear on me a little. Even though we make sure we know where they are going, I worry. Driving them around, especially on weeknights when my wife and I have to go to work, can be a little burdensome. I also have to admit my feelings are slightly hurt that they never want to stay home with mom and dad.

We have a pool so they do spend a lot of time around the house during the day, swimming with friends. They each have baseball or basketball games (sometimes both) most nights. After their games, they head out.

Let me know what you think.

Dumping my Dictionary?

For about 20 years I’ve been telling students, budding journalists and new reporters: “I am a great speller...with a dictionary.”
It’s a phrase I started using to reassure average students that not getting an “A” in spelling didn’t disqualify them from becoming a journalist and to remind to new reporters to look up a word if they are unsure of a spelling or meaning.

As spell check became common and the internet put a virtual library on each computer, I sensed fewer and fewer folks admired my loyalty to the dictionary. Who needs to take the time to open up a book when you have a computer that can do the work for you? Despite all the technological advances, when I wrote or edited and was unsure of a spelling I looked it up in the dictionary on my desk.

Until last week. I was editing and needed to check a spelling and opted for Google over Webster’s. A few minutes later I needed to check a meaning, again I went to Google. I have to admit it was faster than opening my dictionary.

I’m feeling a little guilty about abandoning my dictionary and wondering how many people still use one.
Telling students “I’m a great speller...with Google” just doesn’t have the same ring.

Let me know what you think.

Sidewalk Decorum

Heading out for a walk, I get halfway down the driveway and realize I’ve forgotten my hat. I ponder walking without one and then decide to head back in and get my favorite black baseball cap with the orange Monster (beverage) logo. It is my favorite because it is fitted and comfortable and my favorite color. One unexpected benefit is that when I wear it someone under 18 usually notices, thinks it is cool, and proceeds to tell me about some web site where I can get other Monster wear.

But I digress. Since it is close to 9 p.m., I’m not grabbing the hat to look cool because in the dark no one is going to be able to see the logo. I am putting it on because on these evening strolls I often encounter low branches and overgrown bushes and am afraid that if I don’t wear a hat some tick or other bug may leap from the branch or bush and onto my scalp.

You learn a lot about sidewalk maintenance when you walk outside, as I do during the summer. The majority of homeowners keep their walks clear of low branches, bushes and other debris. Many go above and beyond, edging the grass and sweeping them regularly so that dirt and leaves don’t accumulate. I would estimate that around 20 percent don’t bother to trim low branches or overgrown hedges. Others allow dirt and other debris to accumulate. I recently passed a walk where the owner left dirt piles on their walk. Apparently they were doing yard work and decided the walk was the best place to pile the dirt.

I suspect that some of the people that don’t maintain their walks are resentful for having to spend time on something that they have little use for and mainly benefits school children and other pedestrians passing by. But in a society where obesity is rampant we should be doing everything we can to encourage walking. I can attest that clear sidewalks make regular exercise more pleasant.

I want to thank all the homeowners in the southeast section of Wallingford that keep their walks clear and encourage the town planning department to keep requiring builders to put in sidewalks. For those who haven’t checked their walks in a while, take a look and consider cutting any overgrown bushes and low-hanging branches.
If you have an older neighbor and notice some trimming that needs to be done on their property, offer to help.

Let me know what you think.

A fast food story

“Are you sure you want to order two number nines Mike?,” I ask my 16 year old as I drive up to place an order at the new Taco Bell/KFC in North Haven.
“Yeah, that is what I always get,” he replies.
I’m not a big fan of fast food for health and cost reasons but offered to bring him Wednesday night because I sensed he was feeling kind of down about his play in a baseball game earlier that evening. During the ride back from Guilford he didn’t say anything about the two balls that he had gotten his glove on and missed, but his silence said a lot.
I order the two number nines and three other tacos things. He tells me again that it is his usual order and despite the sound it will only set me back around $7 or $8. I shrug and think to myself that he is going away for a week Thursday morning and I’ll be saving lots of money while he is gone.
The queasy feeling I have about the order is confirmed seconds later when the price comes up on the display screen. It reads $12.39.
“Twelve dollars,” I exclaim turning towards him.
I can tell by the uneasy look on his face that he knows he has made a mistake. I complain to him as we start driving up to the pick up window and when I turn to look at him again his face is red and he is clenching his fist. I’m sorry I complained because Michael is usually reserved and when he does get upset it is often volcanic. He starts pounding the arm rest and exclaims: “I screwed up the order just like I screwed up those two fly balls. I hate it when I don’t catch fly balls.”
I don’t deal well with outbursts and am at a loss as to what to say. I’ve also learned that nothing I say is going to make him feel any better about not playing well. I mumble something like “don’t worrying about it” and pick up the order. We don’t talk much on the short drive home.

Ten minutes after the outburst he is at the kitchen table smiling as he devours Taco Bell and talks with his mother and his brother who are eating the McDonald’s food they picked up on the way home from Danny’s baseball game.

In case you are wondering, I didn’t get anything from Taco Bell or McDonald’s, other than the extra large Pepsi that came with the second number nine. Good thing. I didn’t ask for the total of the McDonald’s order, but I suspect fast food for three set me back between $20 and $25 dollars.


A quick update on some recent blog topics:

I did get my haircut. My barber, Gerardo, does a great job, but I like my hair long.

I still have not opened two new pair of sneakers my wife bought two months ago. The rip in my current sneakers that caused me to ask for the new ones hasn’t gotten any worse so I think it will be a couple more months before I open the new ones.

I have not joined Facebook, although I have had a lot of people urge me to join since I blogged about it.