Chiriquí Chatter

Nov 2nd, 2006 by Don Ray

You all will never believe what happened to me this morning!!!

I am still tripping!!

I went to El Rey to pick up some gum and something to drink. As I walked down the isle, I noticed this old lady (a gringa) staring at me. I looked at her, spoke and kept walking to the front counter to get my gum.

I picked up the gum and turned to find me something to drink. When I turned around, the same lady was standing right behind me in my face.

I tried to give her some of my Christian love. So, I smiled and said, “HI!” Then I went on to get me a bottle of water. Can you believe that same lady followed me through the store?! I was getting a little nervous and kind of mad because she never said anything and was acting really weird.

But, you know me, “Trying to stay in my HOLY loving mode!” I just smiled and said, “Hi.”

This is what’s really going to get you. She finally responded and said, “I am so sorry for staring, but you look just like my oldest son…. We just buried him two weeks ago.”

I felt so stupid for getting mad as I expressed my sincerity to her. She said that she was fine because she knew that her son was saved and is with the Lord now.

Then she asked me to do her a favor. I said, “If I can!” She said that although she knew where her son was, she still felt this void because she wasn’t able to say good-bye to him.

Get this… She asked me to get in line behind her and as she left the store say….. “Adios Mama” so that she could have some sense of closure!!

I must admit that her request threw me for a second. However, thinking that this was my opportunity for intercessory, I agreed and got in line behind her. As she left with her bags and the bag boy walking away, I said, “Adios Mama!!!” She smiled with tears in her eyes and said, “Adios hijo.” Hijo is “son” in Spanish.

When I reached the counter, the cashier rang up my gum and bottle of water and said, “that will be $147.50.” I said, “WHAT!?!” As if I couldn’t hear, she repeated it, $147.50.” I said, “Can you tell me how a pack of $.25 gum and a bottle of $.99 water equals $147.50?!”

She said, your mother said that you were paying for her stuff too. I said, “MY MOTHER!?! THAT WAS NOT MY MOTHER!!!”

I literally dropped everything and ran out of the store, just in time to see the lady paying the bag boy for loading her bags in the car. I ran after her and was yelling… Excuse me, Excuse me!!!

When she turned around and saw me, she quickly went to get in her car. I caught her before she was able to shut the door. But she tried to escape out of the passenger’s side. So, I lunged at her only to grab her leg.

By this time, security was coming anyway. I started causing a real scene… yanking and pulling on her leg!! I kept pulling her leg and pulling her leg……. Just like I’m pulling yours!!!

Moral to the story: Don’t believe everything that you read on a blog on the Internet! Now, get back to work! Peace…

Posted in Humor - Maybe!

49 Responses to “I felt the need to share this…”

on 02 Nov 2006 at 11:23 am1Laurel from Chicago

You really had me going there! What an idea for a scam!
on 02 Nov 2006 at 11:28 am2Don Ray

Sorry about that. I guess I was feeling a little ornery today.
on 02 Nov 2006 at 11:35 am3Edgar Echevers

Hahaha, thanks for the story Don Ray. It make me smile in this boring day at work.
on 02 Nov 2006 at 11:39 am4Don Ray

Glad to have helped alter a boring day.
on 02 Nov 2006 at 12:31 pm5Sylvain Duford

Pretty creative

Too much time on your hands Don?
on 02 Nov 2006 at 12:35 pm6Don Ray

Now why would you think that? Actually, I can’t take credit for the creativity of this piece. I don’t remember where I found it and thought I would hang on to it. Today I modified it to make a sound feasible for Panama.
on 02 Nov 2006 at 1:26 pm7Sieg Pedde

Thankfully, I didn’t have a mouthfull of coffee just as I got to your punchline. That’s hilarious!
on 02 Nov 2006 at 1:28 pm8Don Ray

Thanks for dropping in and I am glad you enjoyed it.
on 02 Nov 2006 at 4:27 pm9Debbie

LOL! Actually, that would make a pretty good scam! Good one, Don Ray!
on 02 Nov 2006 at 4:31 pm10Don Ray

Well the best scams are pulling the legs of unsuspecting folks.
on 02 Nov 2006 at 6:33 pm11Jerry Gaspard

Hey Don, I thought you told me you were sick this morning with a cold and in bed? Long time since I laughed that hard. Knowing you it is exactly what you would do to!
on 02 Nov 2006 at 6:38 pm12Don Ray

Well, I certainly haven’t done much today. If I could get past this sinus problem I would be in good shame.

Thanks for dropping in.
on 02 Nov 2006 at 9:25 pm13Ron Miller

What a great story! You had me going too.

Ron
on 02 Nov 2006 at 9:31 pm14Don Ray

Thanks for dropping in. Glad it brought you a smile.
on 03 Nov 2006 at 12:01 pm15Liz from Texas

Haha, very funny! I visit your website daily and really enjoy it. Keep up the good work!!
on 03 Nov 2006 at 2:40 pm16Don Ray

Thanks for leaving a comment Liz. What part of Texas do you live in?
on 03 Nov 2006 at 2:56 pm17Liz from Texas

San Antonio, home of the Spurs!!
on 03 Nov 2006 at 3:00 pm18Don Ray

Ah ha. Well a Maverick fan here.
on 04 Nov 2006 at 12:41 am19Kim (a.k.a. Kimberly)

Ha!! Got me with that one too, lol. Reed
on 04 Nov 2006 at 8:07 am20Don Ray

Hmmm. Didn’t know you were that easy.
on 04 Nov 2006 at 1:29 pm21Sharon Sample

none the wiser after all these years, I am so gullible…….. good one Don Ray.
on 04 Nov 2006 at 1:33 pm22Don Ray

Hahaha. Aren’t we all!
on 04 Nov 2006 at 3:07 pm23jim of jimandnena

Don Ray!!! (Or as we refer to you, Don Don!)
First of all Nena and her sis, Lela were just sitting down for lunch when I dragged the laptop to the table to show them the videos of the Dianas, and the parades. Since their mom’s birthday is the 4th we had just called her to wish her a Happy Birthday. The photos and videos were the next best thing to being there for the gals. Thanks for posting them !!

Then I read them the “incident” at El Rey and had them both feeling sorry for you … until I gave them the punch line. You know why they call it “punch line”? Cause that’s what they both did to me!! haha

By the way, my sis-in-law says that if you tell the same tale in Spanish to use pulling her hair instead of pulling her leg! That’s the Panama equivalent to leg pulling!?! ha

All the best and thanks for bringing Panama to our kitchen.
jim and nena and lela
on 04 Nov 2006 at 5:24 pm24Don Ray

Glad you had a little fun out of this post also. Be sure and check out all the videos of the parade. It will take a while before they are all uploaded.
on 04 Nov 2006 at 7:54 pm25sussan

Don, realmente me hiciste reir!!!!! que imaginacion…
on 04 Nov 2006 at 8:20 pm26Don Ray

Me alegro de que le trajo una sonrisa.
on 05 Nov 2006 at 5:56 am27Dick Kane

Don, You have developed too much credibility with your blog. This will slow that down some. Thanks for pointing me here. Great story. Happy Sunday. Dick
on 05 Nov 2006 at 7:25 am28beverly

hhahahahahaa. i was fished in about half through it…thanks for the laugh…also from texas…austin
on 05 Nov 2006 at 7:42 am29Don Ray

Hope it gaveyou a smile Dick!
on 05 Nov 2006 at 7:51 am30Don Ray

Beverly,

We people from Texas are always trusting.
on 05 Nov 2006 at 9:47 am31Joe Tarell

Don, you still are creative as H—. That was great, and living in Florida could be a true story. Keep up the good work. Joe
on 05 Nov 2006 at 9:51 am32Don Ray

Hey, it could be a true story many places. Thanks for the comment Joe.
on 05 Nov 2006 at 11:22 am33Bill L.

Hook, line and sinker! Still smiling here in Hotlanta.
on 05 Nov 2006 at 12:03 pm34Don Ray

Hi Bill. Thanks for leaving a comment. Glad I brought you a smile.
on 06 Nov 2006 at 8:00 am35Sue Ellen

That was just too, too funny - you had me all the way! I have about 7 more weeks to go. I think I have already given you my email at home. Have a great day - I think everyone is having sinus problems right now!
on 06 Nov 2006 at 8:05 am36Don Ray

Thanks for the comment. WOW. Only 7 more weeks. I bet you are excited. If you make to to Panama give me a call.
on 06 Nov 2006 at 11:50 am37Omar Upegui R.

Hi Don:

Great creativity. You fooled me all the way until the very end. I’ll have to be more careful next time I go to a supermarket.

Thanks for stretching my smiling muscles.

Cheers,

Omar.-
on 06 Nov 2006 at 1:39 pm38Don Ray

Hi Omar. The smiling muscles are the best ones to exercise often.
on 07 Nov 2006 at 12:16 pm39Lynn Hunstable

Don, that was a good one. I have failed to tell you how much we enjoyed our Panama Cruise, sorry we didn’t have time to look you up. The rainy season was just beginning, boy I wish you could send some of that up our way. Have a great day and take care of yourself.

Lynn
on 07 Nov 2006 at 12:21 pm40Don Ray

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. If I get up your way, I will give you a call. Nice to hear from you Lynn.
on 09 Nov 2006 at 5:25 pm41Kielbasadox

Don Ray, A couple days later, I still laugh at it!

Thanks

Gringo, in the greenhouse
on 09 Nov 2006 at 5:36 pm42Don Ray

Glad it brought you a good laugh. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
on 18 Nov 2006 at 9:55 am43melissa_cookingdiva

I know I am a little late to comment on this post, but, Don…to tell you the truth I could picture that happening in Panama, yes. Un abrazo,
Melissa
on 18 Nov 2006 at 10:00 am44Don Ray

It looks like a lot of people could picture it happening.

Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment.
on 12 Jan 2007 at 8:03 am45Pearl

I have only just seen this story to comment on. I really believed it until I saw the punchline.

I agree with everyone that could happen anywhere.
on 12 Jan 2007 at 8:18 am46Don Ray

Hi Pearl. I hope this post gave you a smile.
on 08 Jul 2008 at 6:17 pm47Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » A Visit With A Gringo

[...] try to find something in the blog that might be a little bit interesting. I finally decided on “ I feel the need to share this”. I knew approximately how many students would be in the class and this article was long enough [...]
on 10 Jul 2008 at 7:31 pm48Carey

This is one of the sayings I’ve taught mi novia to say, who lives in David. I also taught her “Yanking your chain”. I tried to tell the same story but it works best with fluent English speakers.
on 10 Jul 2008 at 7:59 pm49Don Ray

Hi Carey. You are right. A lot of humor doesn’t translate well. Especially the humor that is a play on words.