My Saturday morning list of errands usually takes me to Moon Valley Cleaners, where I trade this week's stains (and a bit of cash) for last week's wardrobe,  which should now be stain-free. I found them years ago when I ran out of clean clothes, and got tired of hearing, "You're a smart guy. You can figure out how the washing machine works."  HA! I was even smarter than that! Bill and Susie are happy to do my laundry--well, most of it.

 

And so it was that I presented myself at their counter this morning to make our weekly trade.  Standing next to me was a woman set to make her own trade. Just seeing her there reaffirmed my choice. I'll bet she knows how to work a washing machine, yet she comes here to have it done. I knew this was a very smart woman.

 

They brought my pressed shirts and pants and hung them on the rack so that they were between me and my smart fellow customer. I gave over the money, and the attendant disappeared to make change. While he was gone, I casually looked over the shirt hanging on the outside of the bundle to make sure the stains were gone. It had been a spaghetti day when I wore it last. The smart woman looked at the shirt, too, and then turned to me, flashed the largest smile I'd seen all week and said, "Snappy!"

 

The world seemed to move in slow motion, and I was transported back to high school and the day a girl I didn't know stopped me in the hall to tell me I had beautiful eyes. I remember my reply as if it was yesterday. As I was picking up my dropped books I said, "Herfel snork baraaak gleep!"  I never saw that girl again.  This time it would be different. I'm not a pimply-faced teenager, I'm a seasoned, well-spoken gentleman, and I  am capable of saying something profound.  I was horrified to hear the words that tumbled out of my face. "This ole thing?"

 

Her smile was still there, and I saw in it the smile of a dear friend, now departed, and whom I miss terribly. The likeness was uncanny, and "Snappy" is a word she would have used comfortably.  I realized I had been given a great gift, and my spirit has soared all day because of a smile and a single word.

 

My transaction was complete, and I grabbed my bundle of clothes, stuffed my change in my pocket, smiled and said, "See ya."

 

"See ya," she said.

 

I hope I do.