Thank You for Your Service
Day 6
September 19, 2019
We were told on Tuesday that regardless on how many people are lined up on the boardwalk outside the gate, we are not to open until exactly 10am. Usually, by 9am there are people milling about the property, trying to look in windows from a distance with camera lens or they are out there jiggling the gate which is obviously locked trying to get in. I guess we are lighthouse celebrities this week! LOL
This morning, there were not too many in line compared to yesterday. In fact, by 10:15 am on Wed we had over $100 in sales already. Today, it kind of trickled along until about 10:30 and so we thought maybe it would be a slower day. Nope! We had over 350 visitors in 7 hrs. Holy Moly! They just kept coming! It was a little nutsy, but fun nonetheless.
One of the couples that came in during one of our slower times in late afternoon stood out for both myself and Mr. Quilter Cook. They walked in and we did our usual spiel about the lighthouse. They came over to the register and wrote their names in the guest book and requested two tickets to the tower for $4 each. Immediately, Mr. Quilter Cook noticed his IRAQ VETERAN cap and said "No charge." The man looked confused. We said no charge for military-active and vets and their families. He just stood there amazed. He then gave us a $5 for his wife. "Nope. She's free also." They both just were so surprised it was kind of neat to see their expressions.
Then the man said "You know, I retired during the IRAQ war, but I was in Vietnam. When I came home we were spit on. Nobody cared about what we had done. Nobody. You just don't know how it touches me that there are still folks out there who respect the military service. You just don't know." I thought for a moment he might cry, but he didn't.
The couple then went up to the tower and came back down and put a generous donation in our box next to the register. " Thank you, once again. Your kindness will not be forgotten." They both shook our hands and waved goodbye and walked out the door.
There was something in that act of kindness on behalf of this lighthouse association that I think will return to this lighthouse tenfold. I can't say when or what or where...but I have a feeling about it. I probably will never even know when or if something transpires, but it was nice to feel like today we made someone's life better than it was when they walked in. That's all the pay a volunteer ever needs.
Other happenings: A big schooner sailed by today. It was beautiful sailing along the horizon. I saw it again tonight when I went out for a bit after supper and stopped by a nearby convenience store to try to find a birthday cake for the husband. No such luck, but the schooner was worth it. It was anchored in a harbor nearby. How neat. The masts were fully open and it was quite majestic!
I also discovered a REAL general store. It looks like it came right out of the 1930's inside and out. I can't wait to take Mr. Quilter Cook there tomorrow night when we get done. He'll love it. It's in full operation and everything. There's a huge wooden barrel full of root beer with a spigot. The gal there was filling a jug for someone. It was awesome!
So far, we've met all kinds of people from here in the USA, but also folks from England, Italy, Germany ( a lot from there) and South Africa! Yep, South Africa!
Mr. Quilter Cook and I have realized we only have three more full days and we are done. On Monday, we are off for the whole day and we leave by noon on Tuesday, so that doesn't really count. 10am-noon flies by. We will be swarmed with people the first two hours if we even have to do anything. When we arrived the keepers were leaving as we arrived before 11. We have six lighthouses of our own on the list to see that day, so an early departure would be appreciated.
Well, that's it from here. BTW, I'm getting absolutely NO cross stitch or reading done. I can't believe it. I thought I'd have nothing but time on my hands. Boy, was I wrong about that!! LOL
Lights Out--
The Quilter Cook
No comments:
Post a Comment