I have a Dooney & Bourke Colorado Rockies purse. My husband gave it to me several years ago for Christmas and I love it. Turns out, many other people do as well.
A few things to know about me before we go on: I am not a huge purse fan. Don't get me wrong: I like them just as much as any other average woman, but I don't have a lot of them and I don't care about designer names. This is the nicest purse, however, I have ever had and it is considered "designer." And it has seen some major action; I carry it most of the time.
It's no surprise that it has lasted and lasted. What HAS been surprising, though, is how many compliments it has received, from both women AND men. On airplanes, in hotels, at stores. It is also surprising that most people realize it is a Colorado Rockies purse, even though it is just covered with mini CRs, the Rockies logo. No words or other hints to give it away. It isn't even the Rockies colors; it has a dark blue background with white lettering. Not so special in the world of high fashion, but it means the world to me.
I love baseball and I love my husband. I love that my husband knows me well enough to know that I am passionate about all things Rockies (well, until recently), but I will talk about that toward the end of this story.
Today, I was harried and woke up with a migraine. But, as always, I felt good enough to make my way to my favorite Starbucks in Brea, California. I have been trying hard to be more present to the World around me so I can have a better understanding of people. And so I can write about what I observe. Today I could have missed a great opportunity to just take a compliment and run but I didn't. I lingered there, opening myself up to the good stuff that sometimes happens when we just slow down and pay attention.
After I paid and loaded my goods in my little Starbucks bag, the cashier said, "I love your purse!" I said thank you. I then said, "We traded our best player," thinking she would have no idea what I was talking about. Not that women don't know baseball, but my personal experience has been that most women I know could care less about the sport. They tend to be football or basketball girls. So this woman intrigued me and caused me to pause.
She replied, "Aren, uh, no that's not it," or something to that affect. I saved her, "Nolan Arenado," I replied. She said, "Oh, yeah, that's it! My family lives in Grand Junction." In other words, she was telling me, basically, that since she has family in Colorado, she has some knowledge of the Rockies.
"He's their best player," she said. "Why would they get rid of him?" I told her I had no idea, but that people in Colorado were livid. "I would be, too," she stated emphatically.
We talked about the horrific move by the Rockies management for a few minutes. She stated that now the Rockies must not have any good players. I couldn't just let that comment slip by. I said, "They have Charlie Blackmon. He's my favorite player. Do you know who he is?" When she said no, I proceeded to describe him, you know the one with the long beard, I said. A smile, then a look of knowing crossed her face and she said, "Oh, yeah! I know who he is." I told her I named my Jeep after him and she laughed. A lot of people think that's funny. I don't understand why.
She asked if Bud Black is still the Rockies manager and I said yes. She mentioned he used to be the coach of the Angels (which I didn't know). We were learning things from each other. I thought to myself, this girl knows baseball. I could stay here and talk to her all day. But work was calling me. Darn work. It always manages to encroach on my personal life.
Then I said, "Wow. You know your baseball!"
And she said that she loves baseball. That her and a friend were on a quest to make it to every stadium. She said they started in 2011 and only had 5 to go. Then COVID hit. I smiled and said that is my dream too, but I had like 8 or 9 left to go. I didn't mention the fact that I started my stadium tour like in the year 2000 or something like that. I left that part out. She either had a lot more time or money (or both) than I did. I was envious.
I ended by telling her I wished I lived in California because, if I did, I knew we would be friends and we could go to games together. She laughed and said that would be nice. And I believed her. I hope she believed me.
As I walked out the door, I was happier than I had been when I walked in. No, that is not the word; I was joyful, even with a migraine, and even though it was drizzling and gray outside. I felt like I had been open to what God had for me today and I didn't waste the opportunity. It's a small thing, but life is made up of millions of small things, all tied together.
I started to think of all the people in the World, all placed where they are supposed to be. The right moments at the right time. And I thought, we really could be good friends, her and I, if I lived here.
We really would.