Abundance Through Friends

Image Description: Two people are standing near water, and they have their arms placed together in the shape of a heart.

My Easter evening began with a big bummer.

Last Monday, I placed an order for grocery delivery. It’s hard to get one scheduled at all, so I did this at 3am, and that seemed to work. When completing the order, the sole option was flexible scheduling. My groceries would be delivered sometime between Wednesday and Sunday. I was glad.

As Sunday approached, I was on the last day of the window, so I knew this was the one. With eagerness, I looked forward to this delivery throughout the day. I’ve had so little contact with the outside world, so it’s kind of nice when people drop off food. Even though I know what’s going to be in those bags on my porch, it feels like a total surprise has arrived. I am manufacturing surprise! (And with great gratitude for the workers too. We should tip them big).

I am slightly embarrassed to say this, but it’s funny, so I’ll share anyway. I was so eager for this grocery delivery, that at one point, I started singing that goofy song from The Music Man around the house:

“Oh ho, the Wells Fargo wagon is a comin’ down the street! Oh please let it be for meeeeeeee!”

(Sidenote: I completely forgot Ron Howard was in this, and while watching the video, that made me laugh).

As the evening approached, I especially anticipated the Easter treats I ordered for myself. I was looking forward to one item in particular: Cookies and Cream Ice Cream. My favorite. And I hadn’t had any ice cream in a long time.

But then at 5:30pm, I got a text and an email:
Your order has been canceled.

Not delayed, but canceled.

Fortunately, I’ve been freezing some food here and there as I’ve been cooking, so I have more to eat while I figure out something else. But I was bummed. Things are difficult for stores and workers right now, so it’s very understandable. But…
Big Easter Bummer.

I shared this with a group of good friends on our collective Slack channel, and right away, I got a call from one of them. She lives 1200+ miles away in Houston, and she said, “Can I buy you dinner tonight? I’d really like to do that.”

One of my best friends, all the way in Texas, had dinner delivered to my doorstep in Ann Arbor — not because I was totally out of food but simply because she wanted to do it. I was so touched. This was an even better surprise than the one I tried to manufacture for myself. First and foremost, I appreciated the surprise of her kindness, but also… she surprised me with four huge cookies in the bag!

Without naming her, I posted this story on Facebook, and then, less than an hour later, I found even more abundance in my friendships.

I heard my doorbell ring. “Who could that be?” I thought as I looked out the window. When I saw more food on my doorstep, I knew exactly who it could be because this couple had once delivered Christmas cookies to me in the same way. I looked up, and I was right. There he was getting in his car. He saw the Facebook post and came right over.

And… he brought the item I had told no one about.

On my doorstep, there was a container of glorious, homemade cookies and cream ice cream.

Friends are a miracle.

—Renee Roederer