The holidays are upon us in full force. I went to Walgreens this morning to pick up a few stocking stuffers and received an amazing brainstorm regarding some items to put in Jan’s stocking late tomorrow evening. Of course my latest idea will necessitate a special trip to Ft. Worth, but what can I say? When inspiration hits, you have to act on it! I love spontaneity. I have a couple of other stores in Granbury to hit today as well. Jan is out shopping too, but I won’t have to worry about running into her. She is going to Walmart. It could be well after Christmas before she actually makes it through a check out line.

I am choosing to avoid Walmart for an entirely different reason today. My friend Richard served as a general manager for our Walmart store when we still had a child in diapers. I made regular visits to the retail giant back in those days and often ran into him in the process. We had plenty to talk about, because our children are exactly the same age. We enjoyed our Walmart dilalogues. He was dealing with three little girls at home and I had three boys to wrestle with everyday. But I won’t see Richard in Walmart this year or next year either.

Richard passed away several years ago. His sweet wife lost her battle with breast cancer not long after his death. Both of them were in their early 40’s. They left three young girls to be cared for by members of their extended family. The girls are now: 21, 18, and 14. I won’t be talking to Richard in Walmart this year, but I have already corresponded with one of the girls.

Can I empathize with the girls based on my own life experiences? Yes…to a degree. But more importantly I have a responsibilty to those girls. Their parents were my friends. Now that friendship must be extended to the next generation. I have a duty to treat those girls the way I would want my friends to treat my kids if they were in a similar set of circumstances. I will think about Richard, as I quickly walk through the diaper section this year at Walmart. Thankfully there is not a need to buy diapers, but it will trigger that scattered brain of mine to stay in contact with the girls.

I am thankful to be with family this year for Christmas. I am grateful for last minute brainstorms. That is gift buying at its finest! And I am thankful that friendship extends from generation to generation, because someday in eternity I want to be able to tell Richard: I took care of your girls…. I am avoiding Walmart today. But if I do make it over in the next few days, I may pause for a second in the diaper section for a rather private dialogue…