One of my spring goals is fifty bags of donated items for the local thrift store. It is easy to remember to take them on Mondays, because although the store is closed to customers Ben is a new volunteer then. He and his therapist arrive after school to sort shoes and to vacuum. I am proud of him. But other times I toss the bags in the back of the car to drop off when I am nearby. Which may or may not be when they are open. Which may or may not lead to me going in. Which may or may not lead to me buying things. 

The other day I was browsing in the card section, and noticed a box of  pretty ones. Only two dollars. It had a quote by Martin Luther King.

"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase."

Isn't that the truth. 

The other day in marriage group we shared the stories of how we met and there were definitely some hidden passageways in the wings. One couple were juniors in high school. His friend suggested they ask a couple of girls on walk dates. The rules back then were that you had to go as a foursome, as a nod to chaperonage. Because sixteen year olds excel at that. He said ok and they arrived at the front desk of the dorm. He had no girl in mind, so the receptionist called over the loud speaker saying a boy was here looking for a girl to go on a walk. 

That was thirty some years, four kids, and two grandchildren ago. 

Another couple met on a blind date the night before she was headed to the shore for the summer on her annual retreat to the ocean. She had three rules. Meet somewhere neutral so he would not know where she lived. No alcohol. Just coffee, not a meal. In other words she was cautious. He too was reticent to go, but after some cajoling dialed her number. The conversation in a Cherry Hill cafe flowed freely, and long. They went for a walk in the June dusk along cobblestone streets. By the time it was dark they were hungry. So they stopped for a bite. And a drink. Then it seemed unwise for her to walk home alone, so she asked him to escort her. Which he did.

She came back from the beach more frequently than usual.