Hells Gate II.....................by Julianna Rowe

 Hell's Gate II....9-2-2021 

Hells Gate I is WalMart.  Hells Gate II is Woodman's Grocery Store where items cost a bit less because it is family owned versus Corporation of China owned. But that also indicates a certain class of people that we all have seen on the People of WalMart video.  That being said:

I had finished rubbing various body parts with the people of Hells Gate II, checked out, and asked for a drive up number to have my groceries loaded for me.  

I pulled up under the loading area and waited.  My SIRIUS XM shuts down every time I pull into that area which causes me a bit of impatience so I then go into auto pilot reaching for my phone to check what I just checked minutes ago.  Not sure what that means just know it means something that has a psychological description for sure. 

I dont usually openly talk to the guys loading my groceries because often they are "special" and I feel its best to just let them do their job and not interfere. 

The young blonde man came to the car and asked to see the cart number the checker writes on the receipt.  I showed him and instead of walking five feet to what I knew was my cart, he walked back into the store then back to my passenger side window.  I put my phone down long enough to speak.

"Sir, I know that is my cart."  He smiled kindly and responded. I could sense this young man was different. 

"Yes maam but your number says 5381 and the cart says 5382. He continued. We have people pull up with no number trying to take carts of groceries with no proof so I went back in to see if there was another cart with 5381.  There wasn't so I knew this one is yours."

He spoke so kindly. I could sense this young man was different. His spirit was so open. I asked him if people try to steal food very often and he said no but it happens more often than you might think.  Then he went on to talk about how he was glad it was getting cooler and he couldn't wait for it to get cold as in winter.  Rare to hear a young man say that.  He said things settle down around there when its winter.  The kids just hang out and gather in the parking lot instead of close to the building causing trouble. He added that he could think of a lot of other things to do besides hang out in a parking lot." He finished his little chat with these words. 

"They dont know how precious life is and how the time they are wasting could be gone in a day or a week. " 

The words just popped out of my mouth with no forethought.  I told him my good friend was dying from pancreatic cancer."

He then replied to my painful moment by telling me.

" My mom died in 2016 of cancer, then my dad passed away eleven months later from cancer as well.  Dad had been fighting it but got tired and quit."

I expressed my sympathy and asked if he had siblings.  He responded yes he had a lot of family.  He stopped for a few seconds and looked at me as I had turned as far around as I could during our conversing and said.

"I bet you think I am twenty-five right?  Well I am forty one."  

I laughed and told him my son is forty one.  

I wonder if he weren't an Angel in disguise?  He had a genuine, caring, and kind, spirit that glowed. It is rare to come upon such a person anymore especially at Hell's Gate I or II.  I drove away from the loading area with tears falling from my eyes because my spirit was so touched by a stranger's sincere ten minute visit.  I hope his life journey is as blessed as he blessed me today.  Sometimes words cant express ......and this is one of those times.