Rita's Reflections: Finding good things at Walmart
Newlyweds Matthew and Cassandra (Baumia) Keister are an adorable couple. They found love at the Monroe Walmart. Guess what else you can find at Walmart? A spiritual connection.
Shopping just before Christmas, Rusty and I met in the hunting and fishing aisle. It was not until the end of our brief encounter did, I learn Rusty’s name. I told him I was going to write about what had transpired during an ordinary shopping trip. After putting too much time and effort into another lopsided friendship, meeting Rusty reminded me not all of us cling exclusively to a paperback faith.
Richard, our friend and resident of Marian Place showed mom a cordless hearing amplifier he found at Walmart. I found a corded one but between mom’s elf size ears and moving about they came out easily.
Scanning the As Seen on TV rack, I didn’t find what I was looking for. I asked a cashier if she knew where they might be. She helped me find them and we started talking. She is partially deaf and cannot afford hearing aids. We had a lovely conversation before I thanked her kindly and we parted ways.
Looking for ideas to add to my Christmas wish list I went straight to the toy section. I found a 6-foot-9-inch dueling electronic basketball game. I could envision myself taking on challengers and kicking everybody’s butt. Bummer it is too tall for the basement. Instead, I added a remote-controlled big, wheeled truck. That would fit down the chimney.
Moving on from the toy section I found something for Larry. The man standing next to me said the item needed unlocked and he was waiting for someone to return with the necessary tool.
Rusty noticed the hearing amplifier in my hand. It piqued his interest when I told him it was under $30. Rusty explained that he had suffered severe hearing loss many years ago. He balked at purchasing hearing aids when he was told he needed to buy 2 ($5,000) despite needing only one.
A one-legged man might think that fair since he must buy two shoes. Then again, he might change his tune if he must purchase both shoes and hearing aids ($5,059.99). Profit often comes at the expense of another, and perspectives can be fickle.
Knowing so many hearing-impaired people, I was intrigued when Rusty showed me the hearing device he uses. It wraps around the back of his head like headphones and allows Rusty to hear through bone. Different than a cochlear implant, something with which I am familiar with.
As we continued to talk it was comical how much Randy and I have in common. Rusty and his wife have been together 43 years and are a devoted couple like Larry and I are. Rusty and I agree finding balance is the key to our long and happy marriages. I was impressed how many times Randy mentioned his wife. I wish I had asked her name.
Like Rusty, The Bridge on SiriusXM is our favorite music station. Like Larry, Rusty is a hunter and loves to be out in the woods.
Rusty and I broke into laughter when we pulled out hard-earned cash to pay for our purchases. Some of us like being old school about certain things. I like that Larry carries a cloth handkerchief in his pocket like his grandpa Lewis Zorn did.
Until meeting Rusty, I had never fist-bumped anyone in Walmart talking about the Lord. Later, I told my friend Brittany, only God would place me in the path of two hearing-impaired people and give me a story to share. It is a humble reminder; whenever two or more are gathered. He is there. Even at Walmart.
— Rita Wyatt Zorn is a wife, mother, grandmother and lifetime Monroe County resident. She can be reached at 7.noniez@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Rita's Reflections: Finding good things at Walmart
