Monday, July 23, 2012

Who knew the pool pop machine could be so interesting?

It's been hot here and my only recourse, other than keeping the kids inside, thus completing their plot to drive me completely insane, is to take them to the pool.  Normally I don't like going to the pool for a number of reasons.

Here are just a few:

  • I don't like being in a swimsuit.
  • I'm not really a fan of water.
  • Taking all three kids to the pool is a borderline recipe for a murder/suicide.
  • There is usually puke involved.
  • Followed by copious ammounts of swearing.
  • One of them invariablly wants a snack, the only snack we didn't stuff into the frigging pool bag.
  • Followed again by copious ammounts of swearing.

But it's been a long hot summer.  The only thing to do when it's this hot is to go to the pool and stay in it.  So that's exactly what we've been doing.  Right after sword camp, yes that is still going on, we get a quick lunch and head to the pool.

And even at the pool the kids have been fighting. "That's my floatie!  I had it first!"  Alex exclaims, exasperated, pointing to the baby, who realizes pretty quickly a conspiracy is about to happen and takes off running.  

"No, Mom, that's mine!  Make her give it to me," screams Lizzie, grabbing the baby, followed by, "Mine, Mine, MINE," from the baby who is now fighting Lizzy on the ground.

"Mom, my ears hurt!  Make her give it to me!  I had it first!" Alex screams, feverishly flapping.  Lizzy's still claiming its hers and the baby's now screaming rapid fire, "MINE, MINE, MINE!"  Both girls are now entwined, werstling to the death.

"No, you didn't you didn't have it first, I had it first...MOM, it's mine!"  Lizzy screams one more time followed by an, "OUCH!!" from the older two because the baby has slung the offending toy,hitting them squarely in the face.

And all of that was before we had gotten in the water.

So when this guy showed up, it was like Jesus Christ coming down from the Heavens giving me a brief respite from my own kids.  Thank you Jesus.

See, he even had a beard and everything.

Alex rounded on this guy faster than I don't know what, he never saw it coming.  I did and mentally said, "Ah, fuck it."

"HI!  My name is Alex and OH MY GOSH are you going to open the machine?!?  He is!!  He is!!"  Alex screams, "Mom, come over here, QUICK!!!  He's going to open the machine!"

"This is soooo cool!!!"

And before I could even get to him, Alex had worked his way into the pop machine and was telling this guy how it works.  "Did you know when they money comes in, there is a scanner???  Yup, there is!  And did you know, when it comes in there are different spots for the money to go, depending on the currnecy?  But not Canadian money!  Did you know you have the most aswesomest job in the world?!?!"

"Look, is that where the cooling
agent is kept?  Is it freon?"

This went on for what seemed like hours and I tried to get Alex out from underneath this guys feet....it was so not going to happen.

Vending machine guy said it was all right, he'd talk to Alex for a bit.

And for the next twenty minutes or so, he and Alex were knee-deep in conversation about the finer points of vending machine mechanics.

He was my savior.  Sweet Jesus came to me in the form of soda stocking man.

When he was all set to leave, he came over and said, "You got yourself a real special kid there, take care now."  And with that, he left.

I didn't have a chance to say thank you, or to say anything, he had gone that quickly.  I was left thinking how kind he was to listen to Alex.  To interact and engage him.  To give him the time of day and make him feel special.  He has no idea what it mean to me, to Alex.

I think he's pretty special too.  And I'm not talking about my son.


46 comments:

  1. awww, there are still great ppl in the world!!! Wtg pop man :)

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  2. Not to get all sappy and weird, but, don't you think sometimes that angels are sent to us? I mean, clearly, this man had a job to do and had to get his shit done. But he took the time to interact with your son on a hot day, made Alex feel all kinds of special, and gave you relief! I hope this man got some good lovin' when he got home (not from you. Not implying anything.). Or SOMETHING!

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    1. Totally, I think he took one look at me and looked back at Alex and just took it from there. I must have looked like hell.....

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  3. It probably wasn't your intent to make me cry on a Monday morning...but you did.
    Um, I love that soda guy. And I love your kid.
    And damn it, our kids need to meet.

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    1. No, not my intent and our kids TOTALLY need to meet.

      xxoo

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  4. I love it when we happen upon people who are understanding and amazingly patient. I like the pop guy, too!

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  5. Awwww, that's such an adorable story!! And yeah, who knew there was so much to pop machines! I wish I could have been there to hear the conversation....

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    1. It was funny, Alex was telling this guy everything and he was just going along with it and telling him some 'secrets' like how they can change soda locations and stuff. It was cool to watch.

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  6. I'm thinking the 7up guy got the sweet end of that deal! I mean really, how often do you think someone shows that kind of fascination with his job? He's pretty lucky that Alex came along if you ask me - there formed a mutual admiration society! How awesome was that for both of them? And I love how midwest you are saying "pop" you know? We say "soda" out here.

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    1. I go back and forth between 'soda' and 'pop' I don't know why but I do. We did call it pop growing up though!

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  7. The world needs more people like the soda pop guy!

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  8. Aww man that was a great story.
    Been in the dumps so thank you very much Alex!!!
    I needed that.

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  9. those are the moments we live for huh? There's still a sliver of humanity left. It's nice to bump into it occasionally :)

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  10. There is so much awesome here, I don't know where to start.

    Who knew that one of life's special moments would involve a vending machine technician?

    Tell the truth, was "It's a Wonderful World" by Louis B. Armstrong playing in your head while you were taking pictures of the vending machine? Because that is both really weird, and totally fitting of this scenario.

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    1. Now that song is stuck in my head. Dang you, Flannery!

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  11. I call those special people, who seem to appear out of nowhere in my darkest hour, angels. The universe was kind to you, and Alex, today! I am going to smile all day about that.

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  12. I doubt many people stop the vending machine to talk about how cool the inner-workings are. I'd say Alex was just as special to that guy! I know I've said it before and I'm going to say it again, you have the coolest kid ever.

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    1. Thanks, and your kids aren't half bad either. :)

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  13. Another job for Alex. You need to start making a list of jobs he likes.

    And post a picture of you in a swimsuit. We'll all vote. We'll be nice. We promise.

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    1. I had a pic of me in a swimsuit....it's here somewhere...

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  14. I wish there were more people like the soda man in the world. Slowing down and taking time with others can be priceless. I am so happy for you and Alex.

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  15. God bless the vending machine stock employees and everyone else who takes a second out of their busy lives to give just a moment to our special needs kids ;)

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    1. I know. I was really upset I couldn't thank him.

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  16. that's a cute story, Lizbeth--it made me smile! It made me smile because the pop guy saved you, and because of how charming Alex is with his thirst for knowledge. Shit, that's why school is a torment! He knows all this stuff about the mechanics of the pop machine, and he has to suffer through school!

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    1. He was asking me to do math problems yesterday and I couldn't do them!

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  17. My son is like that to. Will talk to anyone about the inner workings of things.

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    1. I think our kids would get along just fine!

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  19. The random kindnesses of random strangers is just just amazing
    loved the pics and the story
    I HATE The pool as well ( I always feel like all those little babies - wearing those swim diapers - and we all know that they hold NOTHING - their pee is what keeps the water level !!) Also I have long thick hair and I hate having to wash it everydau

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    1. Sometimes Blogger can be a tool, huh? :)
      I so know what you mean---every night the kids have to go in for scrub downs. I mean, we really have to get in there and scrub them to get all the sunscreen off.

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  20. Alex probably made the soda man's day. Think about it, usually he gets pushed around, told the machine stole his money, why don't you stock beer? Instead he spent 20 minutes with a kid that worshiped him! Go Alex!

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  21. Wow. I KNEW there were some awesome people left out there in the world... I just knew it. I'm so glad that one of those people happened to show up when you needed it most.

    Soda guy -- you're a hero!

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    1. Incidentally, Lizbeth -- you're a hero in my book too. I'm afraid to take 1 kid to the pool. I can't imagine how you do it with 3!

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  22. Wow! That guy is an angel. Your son will always remember that.

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  23. I know if you had the chance, you would have licked Soda Jesus' bearded face for that. Or maybe not. That might have been my reaction. Wait, you totally would. I'm going to make a shirt that says, "I LOVE SODA JESUS". What joy.

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  24. Aww, that's wonderful. Stuff like this gives me faith for humanity. There are still kind people out there!

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  25. What a great day for all of you! The coke machine man was reminded that some people think his job is pretty amazing, Alex got an inside look at the inner workings of a coke machine, and mama got a break! :) Nice!

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  26. What a great guy! You should send a letter to his boss telling him what a great guy this man is:)

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  27. Awesome post! Made me have faith in human kind again!

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  28. We are very lucky to have met many soda guys who love that a little guy thinks that what they do is awesome. I once took a container of homemade brownies to the garage door factory near us. They spent a good hour showing us everything. ;)

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  29. That is way better than the old Coke commercials! I hope you get to see Soda Guy again before pool time ends!

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Comments make me all squishy but remember to be nice. If you're not nice then what you said goes *poof.* There's your warning.