An amazing thing happened yesterday and I just had to share...

There is a a mom & pop style mexican restaraunt just a few blocks from my apartment that my friends and I frequent. The staff is friendly, the food is great and the margaritas are delicious. In fact, I would say the only thing that keeps this place from being "perfect" is their use of styrofoam containers. 

Shortly after we discovered this little place two years ago, I began bringing my own container to cart home leftovers.( I wasn't about to stop patronizing them due to their use of styrofoam, but I didn't feel right participating in it either!)  Now, at first, the staff would give me a funny look when they asked if I'd like them to box up the rest of my dinner and I would reply "No, I've got it" and produce my own container for carrying home goodies. Most times it lead to a lively discussion about the hazaards of styrofoam and/or the long-term effects of a 'disposible mentality'. At this point, I think everyone is pretty much used to it!

BUT, a few months ago, the owners were actually in the restaraunt as I packed the rest of my veggie fajitas into my pyrex for lunch later in the week... Puzzled, one of them asked our waiter what the hell was wrong with me and he suggested the two of them come over and ask me themselves.

What followed was a cordial discussion about the ramifications of purchasing and using styrofoam containers (from the dangers caused by the making of styrofoam - to the possibility that a patron might choose to re-warm their leftovers in the microwave, still in the container - to the horror that awaits us as these substances linger in our landfills) as well as an exploration of the alternatives.

Yesterday, we were back at this restaraunt for dinner. At the end of our meal, Mike, our favorite waiter/assistent manager, produced two boxes made partially from recycled paper with our check. Smiling he told us that the owners couldn't stop talking about how concerned I was about the styrofoam containers and actually looked into trying something else!

Evidentally, the paper containers even cost a little less than what they had previously been using!

Mike told me that all of the staff members have been instructed that, while presenting these new containers to customers, they are to tell people that the restaraunt had recently switched over to paper containers after learning about the hazaards of styrofoam and to offer that this is "just one more way we are trying to let you know how greatly we appreciate you"!

I love it!

So, I stopped at the Mystic Goddess One-Stop Pagan Shop on my way to the gym today. (Gotta love any story that starts that way...) I wanted to pick up a black candle. 

(Every now and again, during the new moon, I will engage in a little 'releasing unwanted baggage' ritual. Seeing that my roommate and I recently vacated a house that held a lot of meaning for both of us, we felt the quickly approaching new moon would offer a perfect opportunity for some intentional "out with the old, in with the new" work.)

Anywho, I digress. As I walked into the shop (triggering a chorus of wind chimes hung over the door to announce my arrival like a faerie symphony, thank you very much) the gorgeous and matronly resident Goddess behind the counter coos "What can we help you with, Darling?" I quickly inform her that I am looking for a black candle...

Before I can even get the rest of my sentence out, she tisks at me and sighs "The new moon is less than 5 days away, child. We are all out of black candles."  

The matter-of-fact way she informed me of this stopped me in my tracks! My stomach sank. I felt ashamed. I imagined this must be what people experience when department store cashiers chide them for purchasing Christmas gifts on Decemebr 24th! I believe I managed to breathe an "oh, thank you anyway" as I tucked my proverbial tail between my legs and shuffled out the door. (Cue faerie symphony again.)

Certainly a surreal way to start my day!