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Musings on Wawa, Nike and Veterans
What do we "Wawa"nt...?
I woke up to a cold day in southeast Pennsylvania. The temperatures were in the low 20s. Not officially winter according to the calendar. Try telling that to the homeless family on the streets of Philadelphia.
Nine day until Christmas. The formal day anyway - December 25th.
Yet I wonder about those people drawn to health care or people - related professions, like teaching, counseling, ministry - where the holiday giving spirit is present all year long.
The Wawa Blues
In our neck of the woods, it is hard to blink twice without passing a Wawa convenience store along the roadside. If you are unfamiliar with this store, it sells everything from soup to nuts. The sandwiches are really quite good and the coffee is fresh all day long. Now the cost is not cheap. So don't be Wawa... whhhining about that aspect
I will admit I have stopped in Wawa for quite a few reasons in the course of a day:
** They have gas tanks and are present in the most unlikely places.
** Their coffee is so good. Where we are there is a store within walking distance from our home, we have been grateful for this morning coffee when our neighborhood power and electricity has been out due to storms.
** The store typically has a parking lot. I have met girlfriends when getting together to carpool.
**I even felt safe enough to wheel a homeless veteran across the street to the parking lot curb by the dumpster, from his home on a concrete divider in the heart of the city, to change his leg bandages with a bit more dignity and privacy.
Yesterday, as I was driving to see my sister, I heard a song, "Christmas at the Wawa", on the radio by a local group called the Tin Bird Choir. The lyrics give perspective on what our American families are going through, especially at holiday times.
© Maria Jordan (revised October, 2014)
Just Do It
I sure do love that slogan. Short and simple.
My husband works with folks who are one step away from homeless in his role as a social worker. From Fall through February, we collect excess / outgrown coats / warm items of clothing from family / friends. Some are kind enough to purchase brand new items as part of their holiday shopping.
Yesterday I witnessed a woman in line purchase a pair of Nike sneakers for a little girl, speaking of the expression "just do it"! She was spending thirty dollars for a young stranger who had identified this on a wish list for her church.
Short and simple, this is the holiday spirit in its truest of intentions. For me to observe the beautiful and loving interaction between the adult mother and daughter who were making the purchase brought tears to my eyes to the point that I had to look away. This was a moment that needed to be forever captured for others to remember the essence of giving from the heart.
Going Postal
This is a sub - title that can surely put the fear of God in me since my near death experience in 1999.
Yet, sure enough, I was recently in the neighborhood Post Office standing in a long holiday line. Call me strange but I enjoy making small talk with those I am standing around ...as long as everyone is cool!
A man was clearly on the edge because of a misplaced package. That made all of us rather edgy in line and we breathed a collective sigh of relief as he stormed out.
Then a sweet gentleman apologized as he had a couple packages to send to his son who would not make it home from overseas for the holidays. Several of us had moist eyes and all of us asked him to send our thanks for serving our country, especially at this time of year that is meant to be spent with family and friends.
I have confused a couple dear friends who will no doubt reading this hub, when I sent out my Christmas letter. Therefore, I have decided to talk about the Mysterious & Miraculous Book project as I finish up my holiday musings with you all in HubVille.
These books, which are wonderful collections of true tales of the paranormal and supernatural, are compiled, edited and published by a team of individuals who are donating their time and expertise to help our Veterans through such programs as K9s for Wounded Warriors and Supporting Homeless Veterans.
I have personally given many copies of both books to my family and friends as gifts. For me, it serves three purposes:
** I get to give a wonderful gift to a dear friend at a reasonable cost.
** I get to help a wonderful organization that is close to my heart.
** I have been so bold as to request that my friends return the favor and purchase a copy or two of the Mysterious & Miraculous series for someone they love, preferably a Veteran.
In time, the Legacy Scribes hope to have enough proceeds to be able to publish some hard copies of these books. Your support and sharing of our efforts go a long way in helping us reach our goals.
Hoping you and your loved ones have a happy and peaceful Christmas. May 2014 be healthy and joyful for you. Thank you for the support you give me all year.
Stop by my website and check out what I have been up to @ www.marcoujor.com I would love to send you a free gift of my writing if you take a peak in my Book Store and drop me a line, let me know what appeals to you. All my best, mar
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Comments
- Author
Dear Shyron,
I am so happy to be part of your collection of friends...you are a lovely lady with a beautiful outlook on life. Thanks for stopping by with such a sweet comment.
Hugs, Maria
Maria,
Where have I been?
That I did not hear of you my friend.
You are one of those special people
Just like my other hubber friends
I collect them don't you see?
Wheather on or off HP
Hugs with Blessings
Shyron
- Author
Hi Friends,
b. Malin, I was sure I had already answered this lovely comment of yours...but wonderful to see you back, speaking of beautiful!
Peg, Stop back as often as you wish, girlfriend. So happy your Momma is using "that Kindle thing"! Hope you are well and we need to catch up.
tobusiness, A million thanks for stopping by. You won't be disappointed in either / both of the M & M Books. The causes we help are so worthwhile and the quality of the writing is superb.
Thanks to you all for your supportive comments and have a peaceful week. Hugs, Maria
Sorry I missed this gem of a hub. The book series looks like something I would love to read. I've always known that there were angels walking among us. My best to you.
Hi Maria, I stopped in again today to reread this beautiful hub. Hope you are doing well in your efforts on Mysterious and Miraculous. What a great idea and the stories are fascinating. Mom got a Kindle for Christmas and she'll be reading these soon.
Hi Mar, I'm BACK...
Wonderful Hub, Sad, Rich and oh so Poignant and True...Yes, I know Wawa...
You truly know the meaning of giving dear friend...Small tokens of talk are priceless. You are BEAUTIFUL. Happy New Year in 2014!
- Author
Good Evening, Dear Friends,
Genna, I can easily see you speaking to strangers in a line as well. Always lovely to see you and hope you are enjoying the season.
You bring a smile, drbj, as Mom and I loved watching Barbara Wawa on TV...heaven help me, Mom said I interrogated people like her! The Wawa store is just like a 7-11 and we have them as well...!!
Mary, You are such a honey and your comments warm my heart. I hope your Christmas brings you the peace that you deserve after these rough months and I know 2014 is going to be wonderful for you and yours.
Have a peaceful night and thank you all. Love, Maria
How blessed are we to know a girl named Maria! This Maria filled with love, laughter, caring and selflessness. Where does it stop? It doesn't. Your M&M series with its five star rating on Amazon can only wind up in hard cover form for all of us to have and hold. I sincerely hope it goes straight to the top! The concept is wonderful and all its writers are too!
Your generous spirit shines through even here....of course you would talk to those around you on a waiting line, what else would you do?
I can only wish you, from the bottom of my heart, the warmest, merriest Christmas ever! Oh and I hope its filled with lots of love. (I'm sure hubbie will help with that.)
Have to share with you, dear Maria, my very first thought as I read the title of this hub - "Holiday Musings on Wawa ... " I thought it would be an article about Barbara Walters, often called Wawa after her manner of lisping at times.
Instead I learned about a convenience store that is new to me. We have 7-ll in my area but not Wawa, so we are deprived. But deprived I was not as I read this touching hub. Thank you m'dear for your holiday musings and may your Christmas be the Merriest.
“… where the holiday giving spirit is present all year long.” This is the truest spirit of Christmas – each and every day.
“Call me strange but I enjoy making small talk with those I am standing around ...as long as everyone is cool!” I love doing this, too. It’s not as easy in New England as people can be a tad bit more aloof.
How wonderful to read of the Legacy Scribes and the wonderful spirit behind ‘Mysterious and Miraculous’ series. I recommend them to everyone. :-)
Have a wonderful Christmas, dear Maria. Hugs.
- Author
Oh I am laughing, Sista as I was talked out of including tiny (even adorable) fair trade chocolates in your gift package by my husband, who suggested the rest of your gift might look like chocolate soup with the heat in the mailing centers.
So, thanks to YOU, Martie, I indeed have chocolate after my gift puchases...you are amazing in every way. Now please take the most excellent care of yourself. Love, Maria
My dearest Maria, you are totally amazing - completely focussed on others, apparently not aware of your personal needs. I wonder if you have money left to buy yourself a chocolate after you have spoiled all your friends and relatives with gifts?
This hub of yours oozes with your love for others. It also inspires me to go shopping, while I have promised myself to stay as far as possible away and especially from shops like Wawa. We have many of them, ranging from cheap to expensive to totally unaffordable - enormous shopping centres hosting many-many shops, including a hypermarket (or two) selling everything from a lemon to a TV. I try to avoid them all, but, of course, not always possible.
May your Christmas be merry in all ways :)
- Author
Good Morning, Y'all,
Sorry I have been so long in responding due to a combination of final grades and computer snafus:
Jackie, I believe 'you' are the blessing to so many of us in HubVille. I thank our friend Faith for introducing us and thank you for visiting Amazon. Please let me know if you have a story of you or a loved one to consider for an upcoming addition in the series.
Sunshine, Nike would do well to hire you as a spokeswoman and I am serious! You are amazing and have been a staunch supporter of the M & M project. Thank you for your big and beautiful heart.
Becky, Thank you for serving me a needed reminder. I wanted to gift you the other M & M Book and will do so before I forget again. Hugs, dear girlfriend!
Mike, OMG, don't start me on the 7-11s...we have them as well. I guess our lack of tolerance for any inconvenience is showing with all these convenience stores...
then there is the chain of drug stores (legal)...one after aother on the same street...oh my word, how much Tylenol do we really need?! Forgive me, dear friend, I am sounding cold (LOL)!
Paula, You 'sleigh' me by calling me an 'Earth Angel' as I can envision many a family member with an oculogyric crisis but I sure do love you for your sweet loyalty and friendship. You are the epitome of 'genuine, lovely and precious' yourself!
Oh Faith, You make me smile from deep within. You are such a genuinely good and decent woman and I feel as though we have always been friends. May you have a peaceful Christmas season and bless you for all you do for others.
Ruby, You are a true honey and I will enjoy having you stop by my website anytime. Thank you for always being a joy in my life.
Bill, I feel the exact same way about you, so I will gladly accept and return your beautiful comment. Love ya!
Car51, You have a way of making me giggle and stop in my tracks...even when I am being a train wreck?! Your comment has, in turn, put me in the Christmas spirit.
Oh Sha, If my heart was gold, I would give you a big ole hunk...LOL! In the meanwhile, you still get a piece as you are a true blue buddy. Thank you for your visit and heartfelt remarks.
Froggie, "The itch"...you are so funny! Merry Christmas to you to, my pal.
Gail, We are having quite a pre-winter and although pretty, it is sobering to think of those who are not as blessed as we are.Thank you for caring, sharing and most of all 'just doing it' when it comes to this amazing M & M initiative. You are a force to be reckoned with and have a passion that makes me prouder than you may even realize.
So lovely to see you moonlake. Cannot tell precisely where you are that you have not heard of the "Wawa" but I suspect you are faring just fine (LOL)!!! Thanks so much for checking out these books. You will recognize many wonderful Hub writers and get to know others you have not heard of.
Pamela, You have been a fabulous part of both Book One and Two, telling both your stories and the stories of families and friends, even some who have chosen to remain anonymous. You are a Legacy Scribe in the truest sense of the word, girlfriend.
Mary, So very wonderful to see you. How I love this "Cheers from sunny Oz" and how I will hang onto that image in the slightly nippier temps of the US.
Thanks, dear torrilynn, so nice of you to stop by and leave such a sweet comment.
Peg, Did you get a recent e-mail from me, around the 15th? Please send me an e-mail, brief, so I can send you a repeat e-mail. Book 2 is on your 'Santa list'. Your blog pictures have totally blown my perception of warm and sunny Texas, girlfriend but your heart is...!
Thank you all so much for you beautiful messages. Happy Holidays filled with peace, joy, family and blessings. Hugs and love, Maria
Beautiful thoughts for a wonderful Christmas season. The Nike story was so heartwarming as was the bandaging of the veteran's wound in privacy. You are such a gem and a blessing to so many. What a heartwrenching thought to know so many of our heroes have been dropped by the wayside.
I've never heard of Wawa so this was interesting. Must be a northern thing, although the temps here in Texas have been in that range.
Thanks for the great suggestion of these Mysterious and Miraculous books as gifts and donation opportunities. I look forward to getting the second release soon. Love you and may God bless you for all you do for others. Peg
This is a very thoughtful and beautiful hub indeed. Thank you. Up and beautiful.
You are a lovely individual Maria my friend & awesome for all the help you give to others!! may you be truly blessed this beautiful Christmas season..and stay safe & warm..Cheers from sunny Oz
I enjoyed being a part of these book immensely, and I think they are excellent. I love you hub!
I didn't know what a Wawa was until I read your hub. I will buy the books so glad you let us know about this. Thanks for sharing. Sharing your hub. Have a Happy Christmas and a Great New Year.
My Dear Maria,
You touched all my heartstrings with this thoughtful hub which shines with the spirit of your giving heart, not just at Christmas, but throughout the whole year.
We had our first "sticking" snow fall in Delaware last night and I woke up to a picture perfect snow scene this morning.
This hub is a reminder to those of us waking in warm houses that there are far too many who lack proper shelter and also warm weather clothing.
I am glad that the proceeds from Mysterious & Miraculous Book II are going to the non-profit, Support Homeless Veterans.
Thanks for helping to spread the word about the Mysterious & Miraculous Books and the worthy charities they are dedicated to helping.
Voted up and shared with HP and FB followers.
Hugs & Love,
Gail
It's always good to see my old friend writing on Hjub Pages when she gets the itch. Merry Christmas Baby! Terrific Hub.
The Frog
Maria, I love the way you intertwined popular stores with giving selflessly. Wawa's are popping up left and right in Central Florida now. The stores are nice and the gas is cheaper than most other stations in the area.
Your Nike story is truly heartwarming. This is the time to think of others. Actually, we should do so everyday, but it seems America is a little more charitable during Christmas.
Finally, the M&M series is the perfect gift for any occasion.
You have a heart of gold, my friend. Merry Christmas!
Your Hub put me in the Christmas spirit -- like viewing a tall, beautifully decorated tree! Thanks for reminding of the the real "Reason" for the season!
Maria, I always feel better about humanity's chances after reading your words. It is so nice to know there are people who truly care about others....and you are one of those people my dear. You just have a giving heart. Bless you always and.....
love,
bill
Hello Mar. Bless you for all you do. ( and that's a lot more than many know ) I am on my way to your site. Love, Ruby
Aw, my dear precious friend, Maria, what a blessing you are to many, including me! Yes, "Just Do It!" Amen on that one : )
I love to give blankets and a coat to the homeless and, sadly, many are our veterans. I am so proud of you and your work on this project.
I pray that it blesses many, beyond that we may ever know.
God bless you real good. Merry Christmas sweet friend.
Up and more and sharing, of course!
Hugs, Faith Reaper
Dear sweet Maria.....I've said it before and will say it again and again......you are an Earth Angel......a genuine, lovely and precious, Earth Angel. From the bottom of my heart....I send you & yours, warmest wishes for a Blessed Holiday Season..........Love & hugs, Paula
Hello mar. You have built so much into this hub. There is some foreign language in it, such as, "The temperatures were in the low 20s." Now that sounds so cold. Your Wawa must be our 7-11's which are everywhere. The Mysterious & Miraculous series is such a powerful project with such spirit.
Lovely to hear from you. Your musings are always heartwarming. I have a copy of Mysterious and Miraculous, Book 1, and hoping to be able to get book 2 before too long. I am loving it too.
"Just Do It" is a saying I use almost daily, if not to motivate myself, I use it to motivate others also. It seems to work like a charm! I have enjoyed both MM1 and MM2 tremendously!! I am so thankful for all the stories that were shared and for the purpose behind the books. So thoughtful and sincere.
Also, we are just starting to get Wawa's in Orlando. They seem to be quite a hit! Happy Holidays MM! :)
Sounds like you are a real blessing and the world could use so many more of you. God bless and Merry Christmas and I will be off to Amazon right now. Up and sharing.
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