From the Back of the Bus
Kelly is an expert quilter. She works at the quilt shop in her little town, teaching classes, designing original patterns, and doing whatever her customers want and need.
Recently, her shop partnered with other shops to sponsor a day-long tour of area quilting businesses. She did not have to be asked. She volunteered to be the "tour guide" on one of the buses.
Her bus had over fifty women, and one man. He was a musician, looking for unique and different fabrics.
They would have lunch about mid-way. Other than that, there was no plan to make the ride entertaining.
Being a gregarious and people person, she wanted everyone to get acquainted and just have a good time.
She decided to go through her home work-shop, find some prizes, and have a little fun along the way. She picked over a dozen prizes, everything from a tape measurer to quilting magazines. A vintage quilt was even among the prizes.
"What goes on in the bus, stays here," she said. She did not want the other buses to think they were doing something special.
They played a guessing game, the questions centering on quilting. The first one to raise their hand with the answer got the prize.
It wasn’t long before they all felt like friends, and seemed to be having a good time.
Little did she know there were several "ladies" in the back of the bus that had some issues with their exuberant tour guide.
She heard about the disgruntled comments as she was going up and down, making conversation, handing out treats, and generally picking up after her charges.
She was told the complaints were that she discriminated against the back because she didn’t call on them when THEY raised their hands. It was a long day and they were tired, and could not raise their hands as fast.
Plus, they were offended because she said, "You guys." They were not guys. They were ladies. Maybe. Maybe not.
WHAT?
Kelly wears her heart on her sleeve. She was floored. "Are these guys for real?" Whoops.
Maybe she should go to the back of the bus and apologize. She had tried to include everyone and make it a fun day. No. She didn’t go back there, and she did not apologize.
Instead, at the end of the day, she stood up at the front of the bus and said, "My mother told me that what you need to survive is water, sunshine, and hugs. I must have believed her because I am a hugger. If you agree, I will be standing outside next to Larry." (their driver).
As they stepped off the bus, everyone gladly took her up on her offer, including Larry.
Except for guess who? They got off and walked behind the driver so they would not have to go past her.
I’ll bet Kelly’s mother told her a few other things. Like, you cannot win ‘em all.
I think getting over fifty hugs at the end of a long day is a pretty good success rate. I would like to add another hug to that total.
If I were her mother, I would say, "You go, girl. Be yourself. Because that is the very best there is."
The cook’s exchange had a great-sounding recipe for spice bars. Maybe a few treats would have made the grumpy ones happy. I wouldn’t bet on it, though.
Spice Bars from the Wisconsin State Journal, August third
you will need:
1 cup seedless raisins
1 cup water
½ cup salad oil
½ to1 cup sugar
1 beaten egg
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 t each salt and baking soda
½ t cloves
1 t each cinnamon nutmeg and allspice
2 oz chopped walnuts (optional)
for the bars, combine raisins and water and bring to a boil
stir in oil
let cool and then stir in sugar and eggs
mix dry ingredients
beat into raisin mixture
stir in nuts (optional)
Pour into greased 9x13 pan
bake 375 for 20 minutes
prepare frosting and frost cooled bars

cream frosting
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup soft butter
1 T cream
1 t vanilla
beat all ingredients and frost
enjoy