I desperately needed a shower this morning as it has been three days without one. Three days is about my limit since my hair tends to get really greasy and deodorant starts to get rancid after a few days...not sure why...but it does. So a hot shower was just what the doctor ordered.
I stayed the night at Mt. Philo State Park, about twelve miles south of Burlington, Vermont where the view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks is outstanding! The weather was perfect for outside sleeping and I was well aware that this campsite came standard with a shower. Tent went up easy and the slumber was sweet.
Morning came with the sound of raindrops falling on the fly. This naturally motivated me to sleep a little longer, hoping the drizzle would cease. It didn’t. So I got moving and took down camp and made my way to the bathrooms -- where I found out the showers were coin operated. Not just any coin, but only quarters.
I threw the bundle of toiletries and close on a plastic chair and marched back out to the Mazda. “There must be a quarter in here somewhere,” I thought. So I checked all the obvious places...under the floor mats, inside the arm rest, glove box, back seat, ashtray, etc. I even slid my had down that slot next to the driver’s seat where all the crumbs of bread and petrified cereal chucks are just to see if one might have fallen out of my pocket.
No luck. I just stood outside in the drizzle looking at my car in unbelief. Like the Mazda did something wrong. Could I really go a fourth day without a shower? (Of course...but at the moment, life felt unbearable and quite miserable. And this coming after being on top-of-the-world from the Boise State football win just hours before!)
I went back into the bathroom to start the process of taking a “splash” in the sink when I looked at the shower operating system to see if there would be a way to add nickles and dimes (which I had too many of). Nope.
But hold on just a second...
“What’s this?”
Someone left a small stack of quarters on top of the shower wall.
I was taken back. This can’t be happening. Seriously?
To say the least, I’m constantly overwhelmed by those who have been helping me everyday along the way. Whether it’s a direct or indirect act of kindness, I humbled by how the days play out and how kindness and generosity shows up when you need it most.
Thank you to whoever left that stack of quarters on the shower. You’re kindness (or forgetfulness) helped me out immensely today as I go show kindness to others.
Cheers!