I stood in line (wearing my mask) to check out at a megastore. A chatty woman six feet ahead of me (with no face covering) told me she only social distanced with her bedbugs, not people. She proceeded to show me what she found to fight the nasty pest.

I learned double-sided tape on the bed legs captured them before they discovered her mattress. Because the line was long and carts were full, she had time to say she would shake hands no matter what “they” said or what she witnessed me doing, which was standing with hands on my cart, minding my own business, and wondering how my luck landed me in this line behind this woman.

I nodded my head once or twice as she spoke directly to me, but I mainly looked at magazines embellishing gossip of the rich and famous. From an endcap display, individually wrapped Dove chocolates called my name and whispered, “Let me rescue you.” I slowly browsed every available flavor and chose Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter. My weak excuse to buy chocolates was to casually discourage the woman from approaching my cart and offering a handshake with bonus bedbugs and the virus.

Finally, the woman proceeded to check out. She paid, picked up the bag housing her bedbug weapons, and looked back at me. My breathing, already labored from the mask, grew more shallow. Thankfully, she turned and walked toward the exit.

Arriving at home, I emptied the enticing chocolates into a small red and white dish on my desk corner. The copper foil wraps blinked, “Eat me. I’m delicious.” I ate one, then two, and then dumped them back in the package and threw them in the freezer.

You and I know that didn’t keep me from eating more. It did help because I had to stand up, walk to the freezer, and wait for one to soften before biting off the first tiny corner.

The following day, I glanced at the copper wraps strewed on my desk and discovered sweet quotes on each foil’s underside. It reminded me of Forest Gump when he said, “My mama always said, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

I’m leaving you with a few foil quotes, and one mental health thought—Something causing apprehension can lead to something sweet. Allow my silly story and surprise quotes to ease these crazy days.

“If you are reading this, you are beautiful and worth it!” Alicia C., Texas

“A smile is the quickest way to brighten a room!” Jessica D., South Carolina

“When life isn’t going right, go left.” Haylea S., South Dakota

“Every moment matters, including this one!” Autumn B., Florida

Until the next time: Live while you live.

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