Thankful Things - March

Today I'm doing a bit of running around town.  I'm in search of cat treats and a new shirt.  I need to buy gas for the house.  I'm meeting a friend at 6:30 downtown.  I have plans to drop by a friend's this afternoon.  All of this must be done today because I leave town tomorrow.

This morning my road prep included picking up several items I had dropped off earlier this week.  I started at the tailor.  Monday I bought a pair of black dress pants on sale.  Tuesday morning I dropped them off to be hemmed.  This morning I picked them up, paid 7 TL and was on my way.  Fast, good, cheap service. 

Next stop, the pottery studio.  I walk in the door of one my favorite places in the whole neighborhood.  Shelves full of people's different projects.  My two favorite, so very patient pottery instructors greet me.  Before I can even ask if my project is ready to be picked up, I'm offered a seat, tea and a bit of conversation.  Of course the answer is yes.  Who cares if I have a million things to do today?  This is truly one of life's simple pleasures.

I finish my tea and I'm on my way to the next stop, the shoe repairman.  Quick swing past the grocery store, one of my step-mom's requested items and a few groceries (lesson than 20 TL) in hand.  Five minutes later I'm at the shoe repairman.  I own one pair of high heels (no one tell my orthopedic surgeon or my physical therapist).  At a New Year's celebration dinner the sole of one heal broke off.  In a week I'll be at my dad's in Doha and will need said shoes to be in good repair.  The shoe repairman not only replaced both soles but also replaced the elastic so they wouldn't make noise when I walk.  All for the originally stated price of 7 TL.

Stop number three, the framer.  I'd dropped off a project to be framed a couple weeks ago.  Today my favorite framer was out of the shop and thus I did not actually get to pick the piece up.  This of course means that no payment has transferred hands.  The response when learning that I will be gone for three weeks?  It can wait.  No problem.

Home I go, thankful for great service, good friends, and a shoe repairman who makes sure that I will walk silently along the streets of Doha in a week.  All to the tune of around 34 TL.  With today's exchange rate it works out to around $18.  I think today would be a good day to pull money.