Already missing the other authors from the event at Klindts' Bookstore in The Dalles.
Quick story:
My mom, Bree Despain and I were traveling together, and we arrived to the airport in Portland about an hour before we needed to. So we decided to grab some lunch.
Gluten-Free baked potato and chili. We were sitting at this table in the middle of the terminal, when this woman and her friend walked by. The woman was talking loudly.
Woman (to her friend): "I just can't believe it. She's my age, and she was just diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer..."
If you don't know my family's history with Pancreatic Cancer, you can click here.
The three of us kind of froze. My mom said, "I wish I could go give her a hug, and tell her she's not alone."
Well, I don't know if it was just how sweet she said it, or how tender I've been lately, but a couple of tears escaped my eyes.
Bree Despain suffers from an affliction known as "Sympathetic Cryer Syndrome" which means if she sees someone she cares about cry, she will cry too. Even if she sees me with allergies, she'll melt. Even if I have something stuck in my eye... You get the picture.
So, Bree started to cry too.
It struck me funny that to the outside eye, it looked like this little table of women just spontaneously broke into tears over their Wendy's lunches, without any visible inciting factor.
I looked down at my chili potato and said, "I can't help crying. This chili is just so good."
Apparently I said it loud enough that a nearby janitor heard me. She came up to our table, leaned in conspiratorially, and said, "They make the chili on site. I hear them pounding the meat, and then adding the beans every single day." She looked at our tear-streaked faces, and solemnly continued. "I know. It's good."
So, somewhere in Portland, there is a kind woman who thinks that a table of women were so impressed with Wendy's Chili that it brought spontaneous tears to their eyes.
I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry, so go ahead and picture me doing the unattractive snort-giggle-sniff-bray.
ReplyDeleteAwesome story, either way.
I don't know why your comment was under my spam folder! Maybe it's because I included the filter "snort-giggle-sniff-bray" word. :)
DeleteThat's a sweet story. And you made me laugh. Thanks.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteYou crack me up. I never had the chance to tell you how sorry I am for your loss, and thank you for sharing your very real life with us!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm wondering about the "pounding" of the meat. Does that mean they kill the cows on site? That must be the key to the tear-jerking chili: the meat is SO fresh.
I wondered about the "pounding" of the meat too, but I really didn't want to ask. :)
DeleteHaha @ your chili comment. That's hilarious!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteOh man such a sweet and sad story.
ReplyDeleteThere's a very fine line between laughing and crying. :)
DeleteI just woke everyone up from laughing at this. They all say thanks.
ReplyDeleteTell them all sorry!
DeleteDon't worry, Portland is full of crazies. A group of women weeping over chili hardly warrants a glace in P-Town!
ReplyDeleteI love the theater picture. Talk about a blast from the past! I saw E.T. there and one of the Star Wars movies and plenty of others that I can't remember at the moment. Good times.
Thanks for the laughs, the sniffles and the walk down memory lane, Brodi. Reading your blog is always good for the soul :)
Aw, thank you so much. I can't believe you went to that theater! That is so cool. :)
Deleteso funny !!!!! but really thank you so much for telling me and everyone else about your expirences i think it really makes people relize that they are not the only ones with problems and that someone who quite frankly i belive is an all around great person and a amazing, author ! has problems too . i support you and your works thank you for brighting up my days by reading your blog
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the comment! What a nice thing to say. You brightened up MY day!
DeleteSo, what's your reaction to homemade chili?
ReplyDeleteVery sweet story (and very funny, too).
Well, if I cry at Wendy's Chili, I'll probably faint at homemade chili. Now to find someone to make me some...
DeleteThis story made me want to cry, but not just from your loss. My first job EVER was at Wendy's and I cried on my first day. I wanted so badly to work anywhere else. However, today it is worth it because I can answer your question about the meat pounding.
ReplyDeleteAfter the burgers have sat on the grill for a certain amount of time, they are no longer good enough to put on a bun. So, they put them in a super special heated drawer.
Later, the contents of the drawer is put into a pan and with a spatula, a worker will beat the crap out of the patties until they are chopped into small pieces.
Then they add a spice packet, a frozen chopped veggies packet, a few huge cans of beans, and some water. After a lot of simmering and magic, you have chili so good you can cry about your dad over it and no one will suspect a thing.
Now you know more than you ever wanted to know about Wendy's chili.
Wow. I think I'll avoid the chili from now on. I was hoping fairies and nymphs made it in the back kitchen, but your way doesn't sound very magical. :)
DeleteI meant to comment a lot sooner! But, last week and this weekend were CRAZY and so busy.
ReplyDeleteBut, what a funny and heart warming story. I started to cry too when I read what the ladies said and then what your mom said. It just reminds me of all you've been through in the last five or so years.
I hope you're doing well, all things considered. And, that you've feel comfort and peace. I think of you often and how sorry I am for your loss.
I actually meant to send you a card when your dad passed away, but I didn't have your address. I contacted Debbie for it and she could only get your mom's. So, I was going to send something there and then I totally got sidetracked. I'm so sorry about that. Some kind of friend I am!