You Just Never Know

On Monday I went walking with my friend Kate. We usually try to walk three days a week and on this day we walked past my friend Kelli's house. As we were walking by, Kelli came out to chat with us a bit. I don't get to see Kelli very often as we are both busy with family stuff, and me with my antiques business, so it's always nice to see her. Recently I have enjoyed reading about Kelli on Facebook where she has been posting some great old cheerleading pictures including one where she is doing a herkie. I too was a cheerleader in high school and was no slouch when it came to herkies. In fact, I showed her and Kate on Monday that I could still do one. I think I surprised them, I know I surprised myself. ha ha

This is Kelli

Let me back up a bit to when I first met Kelli. Sixteen years ago actually. I was working in sales at Embassy Suites. I had just found out that I was pregnant with my first child and had made the decision that after I had the baby, I wouldn't be returning to work. So, although I didn't have to, I gave like seven months notice. The management at the hotel decided it would be a good idea to hire my replacement while I was still there so I could spend time training and make the transition smooth. That's when I met Kelli. She was hired to be my replacement.

Kelli doing a herkie

Kelli and I spent the next several months together visiting customers, laughing a lot and getting to know each other. She had moved to Oregon from Colorado to be near her boyfriend, had previously been a general manager at a Residence Inn and she was one of the most positive and happy people I had ever met. She always had the biggest smile on her face. After a few months I pretty much figured out that I was just hanging out at work. There really wasn't much for me to do which was fine with me as I was just waiting to have my baby.

After I left the hotel to have my daughter and be a stay at home Mom, I tried to stay in touch with Kelli (who ended up marrying that boyfriend), but our lives were so different, we didn't really see each other much.

I don't remember exactly how long after I moved to the town that I'm living in now until Kelli and her husband moved here too. She ended up leaving the hotel too and now is a stay at home Mom to her two most adorable children.

After my walk on Monday, I left a little note on Facebook for Kelli telling her how much I enjoyed seeing her. I was totally unprepared for the comment she left me. I'm going to share it here exactly as she wrote it, because I was so surprised and touched by it. Here's what she said,

"Hey Lisa....so fun to see you too while out walking with Kate the other morning....always wish there was more time. I LOVED the Herkie, I should have brought you ladies 'round back for a little trampoline time just to really say you'd exercised your morning away! You can jump girl! Listen....it's important that you know......while handing off your job to me at Embassy Suites all those years ago in 1993...16 now to be exact...at the same time you were giving me your greatest gift and inspiration. To know that when I too, was done with that "career" chapter, that I would find a great inner peace in following your footsteps out... in a whole new journey of "being home". As you gave me your desk you also gave me my wings to know that deep down inside being a "Domestic Engineer" (lol) would also mean career. You inspired me to get there Lisa, and you didn't even know...have a beautiful hump day and know I'm glad to call you "neighbor" and friend. Cheers to you girl!"

Wow! I couldn't believe it. I had no idea she felt this way. I totally cried and got goosebumps reading this.

So, as my post title says, you just never know what kind of affect your life and the choices you make will have on others. I know I need to do a better job at thanking the people in my life that inspire me.

I know this post was kind of long winded, but I just wanted to share this story. I hope you all have a great day and maybe tell someone who has inspired you thanks! I can guarantee you will make their day.

My next post will be back to my regular stuff. I have some before and afters to share with you.