A life lesson gone SO wrong!

You know when you come across a situation that can be a wonderful learning tool for your children and it's just something that can't be reenacted?

Well, that happened to me and my babes TODAY, however it had a slight twist at the end that I didn't expect.

Me and the kids were heading back to AZ from Utah after a little vacation with the family. We did as we always do, on our journeys to UTah, and stopped in Flagstaff for gas and food. We decided to eat first and then do the petro deal afterwards. So, we eat and off we go the the gas station, eating our little ice cream cones and feeling pretty good about the 24 piece set. While we are filling the up on gas, I take a seat inside the car due to major windy weather. While sitting there I see this lady approaching the car. I wasn't sure if she was walking around the car or walking to the car. Well, sure enough she comes to the driver side window and motions to me to roll the winder down. I some how knew what she wanted and what she was going to say before I got that window down. I think that we have heard this story many times.

"My car is broken down, I am trying to get to Phoenix, I have no money, no gas, I am hungry, do you have a dollar or two to spare"

I could tell by the blood shot eyes, slurred speech and glazed over look that she might of been trying to get to buzzville rather than PHX. I shouldn't be judgemental on those three things, but I have to admit, these were my thoughts.

I told her "I don't have any cash, but I will buy you a hamburger."

She instantly said "Where?"

Me: "Wendys"

Her: "Where?"

Me: Right behind you

Her: "I need two, there are two of us"

Me: "Well let me finish getting gas and I will buy you one".

Her: "I will be sitting over there on that table"

Then she gave me this really long stare, like our conversation just left her mind. So I kindly told her again.

Me: "Let me finish with what I am doing and I will get you two burgers".

Her: "I will be sitting over there on that table". she reminds me again

Me: "okay, by the way, where is your car broken down?"

I am not sure why I asked that. Maybe to see what the answer might be or to see if what I think isn't quite right...turn out to be right.

Her: "um um it's over there, broken down, about 10 miles away" (pointing north and then swinging her arm and pointing finger around in a circle, finally deciding on the south)

Me: "man, that's an awfully long walk, well I will be right there."

I noticed that one of the gas attendants was in front of my car trying to run this lady off. Which she did...because I turned around and poof, she was gone.

I rolled the window up confident that I would be answering questions from the backseat.

"What did she want?" "What did she say" "Are you going to get her a burger? Where is her car? What are we going to do?"

I said to the jeering section:

"I am not sure if she is being honest or not, what do you think we should do? She is asking for food or money what would you do?"

Of course the answer was "get food".

So, we go and get 2 burgers and start over to the secret drop off area. As I approach what was the patio of Del Taco, or the "table she was sitting at". I notice her and her husband sitting there chomping up tacos. I pulled up and said "you want some hamburgers?" She ran over to me quick like and put her hand out for the bag. I looked up at this "broke, hungry, stranded" woman and there she had a glob of salsa or ketchup on the corner of her mouth. I kind of had to laugh at this whole deal. I felt bad for her and then there was this slightly funny picture. I wasn't by any means laughing at her, but just this situation.

As we drove off I was ready to tell the girls that I thought they chose well. But before I could Shelby beat me with this "she lied, she didn't need food, she was eating tacos".

So, I have to explain and try to have my children feel some sympathy rather than scandalous. I tell them that maybe this was the first food she had eaten in 2 days.

I just kept thinking how that could of been a good lesson for them about not being the judge and just being kind.

Well as I am writing this, I suppose it was all about that, even more than I realized at the time.