This happened last fall.
I'd started a road trip. Stopped at a Starbucks for a cup of alertness, happily getting in line JUST before the 5 fire guys (phew!). Ordered my drink, and went to the lavatory.
Therein I realized I had an egg in my pocket.
Granted, it was a down vest, so better than average at camouflaging things, but nevertheless.
I was carrying an egg.
And I was headed out on a long drive.
And I didn't want my chicken to have worked in vain.
Then I remembered the fire guys. And that many fire folks live at the station in 24 hour shifts. And they COOK there.
So, I washed my hands, and wandered to the "waiting for my coffee" standing zone.
And struck up a conversation.
"So, are you guys local?" One of the shorter, friendlier ones indicated yes. "...and you live there, at the station, right?" "Yes, in shifts." Alrighty. Here we go.
"Well, you see, I have chickens, and am just starting a road trip so I'm going to be driving another five hours and I just realized I have an egg in my pocket." Notice at this point, everyone is paying attention. All other fire-guy conversations have ceased.
"It's organic, and I'd hate for it to go to waste, but I don't know what to do with it. Do you want it? Would you use it? It's super fresh; I collected it today."
Glances exchanged. Smiles appear.
"Well... sure, we'll take it. It may just become part of a batch of cookies, but we'd be happy to."
"Oh, that'd be great!" and I proudly hand him one of Fanny's inestimable eggs.
Suitably elated, I then picked up my latte and walked out, feeling that all was well with the world. How lucky am I?
As I settled into my car, it struck me that this was no ordinary Starbucks encounter. This was a strong candidate for the "You know you have chickens when..." list.
Steering toward the highway, I also realized that I may have crossed a line. I may have just become a Chicken Weirdo.
Hm.
Ah, well.
I was still glad of the encounter, proud of my social braveness, and pleased for my hen. =)
And I bet those cookies were great.
biobabbler
LOL, too funny. I would have done the same thing, much to the embarrassment of every one who knows me....gotta love it. No sense in wasting a perfectly good egg.
ReplyDelete=) Hee. I agree. Imagine the broken chicken heart!
ReplyDeleteLol! Great story!! I wouldn't want your lovely hen to have laid that egg in vain either! Lucky you found it before it met another (pocketly squishy) fate.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say I am much more in line with the 'enthusiast' way of thinking rather than the nut/wierdo classification. It's nice to read of another 'enthusiast's' escapades! :o)
@ Christine: Likewise. Yes, I am very happily an enthusiast and wouldn't change it for the world. Life is short and the planet is filled with amazing things, and I'm just v. glad to be here for the ride.
ReplyDeleteRe: egg-squish-escape--yes, unpredicted benefit to DOWN-filled jacket. Cushion! Strangely coincidental/un-coincidental re: feathers protecting egg...