We were shopping at Surfside and Cynthia and I were the first to tire of the shop into which we had wandered. We walked outside the shop and found a table for two; we sat and started our conversation. We had been there only a short time when a young man approached and asked if we would be willing to take a survey. Cynthia & I, neither one being the type who complied with these types of requests, communicated with our eyes that this definitely was not what we wanted to do while we waited for the others to exit the shop. However, before we had a chance to respond to his initial question, he held up this green canvas (?) shopping-kind-of bag and said, for our cooperation, he would give each one of us one of these bags.
It was a nice bag; it was a pretty shade of green, and the screen print on the side said,
“SPRING 2004 Wine Festival Seaside, Florida”
But, I think it was the wooden handles. Normally, these kinds of bags have handles made out of the same material as the bag, but this one had really nice wooden handles that complemented and contrasted with the deep green of the bag. Simultaneously, we each decided we wanted that bag and we, like the young man, knew it was the bag that would clinch the deal.
So, Cynthia and I agreed, but then he told us he had only one of these green bags and the other person would have to accept this really tacky run-of-the-mill off-white bag. That would not do for us! So the young man, who really wanted to take our two surveys, offered to run back to his apartment (?) where he had more of the green bags, would return in a few minutes, and take our surveys. So, we said “Sure, we would be waiting.”
Off he ran and we remained seated, discussing how odd it was that we had agreed to take a street survey. He returned, we took the survey, received our bags, and had a very pleasant chat with this young gentleman. He was a college student, studying to be a Youth Minister (?) (Cynthia may remember this better than I.) and a very interesting pleasant, and funny young man.
Cynthia and I discussed these green bags at a recent (Christmas?) family gathering and she asked me if I had ever used mine. The answer I gave was, “No.” She, too, said, that she had never used hers and wasn’t it funny how we both wanted it.
The reason for this entry is that I am now using my bag. Beginning my triathlon training for 2005, I needed a bag to carry my swimsuit, cap, goggles, towel and shampoo to the pool. I have been using my “Spring 2004 Wine Festival - Seaside, Florida” green bag with the very nice wooden handles for over a month now. And, every time I grab it from the truck to go into the pool, I think of that hot August day in Surfside, Florida, when Cynthia and I tired of shopping and went outside to wait for the others.
I am so glad we did!