Val-Pak Coupons

You know how you get junk mail and you just usually throw it away? Well, I love getting mail so much, that I actually almost always go through it and read it all, and then throw it away. I mean, it's mail!

When I was little, we'd get those terrible little envelopes full of coupons that were from "our loving neighbors" of somewhere or other and my mom would always throw away the entire envelope full without ever opening it. I couldn't ever let this happen, so I'd often grab the envelope and go through the coupons, marveling at the deals and values and thinking to myself, "Self, if you ever needed any of these windows or dog-food or gym memberships, think of all the money you could save!"


Well, the other day, I got my very own envelope of money-saving coupons from my loving neighbors at Val-Pak, and, true to form, I went through all the coupons inside of the savings-packed envelope. Inside I found a plethora of penny-pinching aides, but I found one that was particularly pleasant looking.

Yes friends, that's right. There was a coupon for $79 prescription glasses. Now, I wear contacts, and have for about 5 or 6 years now. Every time I've gone to the optometrist, I've used our insurance to get contacts for about the past three years. Consequently, my glasses prescription is about 3 or 4 years old, and not terribly effective. So, for the low, low price of $79 dollars, I got an eye exam, shiny blue frames that are nice and small, and lenses for them. The guy who was trying to help me pick out frames was hilarious. He leads me over to the case that has the sale frames in them, and I point to the blue ones, and a pair of black ones that I was interested in. He puts the blue ones on my face and, in a very Spain Spanish accent says, "oh yes, these look very nice, they go with your eyes." The next pair of frames he dismisses as being too big and heavy before they even go on my face. I actually agreed with him, and picked the blue ones, but I've never gotten someone who helped recommend frames to me before at the optometrist. The optometrist herself was also very nice. We chatted easily, and, if it turns out that I need to get contacts while I'm here, I do believe that I will go back and see these friendly people to get them.

It's all because of Val-Pak. Thanks to them, I've got an optometrist in DC, and a new pair of glasses with fabulous frames for just $79. Those neighbors must really love me! And all those people who hate to get junk mail must hate me...because it's those people like me who find uses for those coupons that keep people like you receiving them in the chance that you'll become a person like me.

The Self-Pity Puddle

So, I've been feeling a bit lonesome out here. It's not that I don't have nice associations, and it's not even that I don't have a few people I'd consider friends. It's certainly not that I don't love Washington DC, because I do. I just miss my family, and my best friends, you know, the play-together kind and not just the waving friends. Anyway, I'd been wallowing a bit in my own self pity. Granted, it wasn't a very long wallow...my self pity is kind of like a cold bath. There's just no reason to stay in it for long once you've gotten yourself clean.

So, yeah. I'm wallowing a bit in this self pity, wondering why it is that all these people around me haven't yet jumped to their feet and tried to make me their friend. Sure, my moving experience has taught me that I am usually the one who has to go out and make a move if I want friends, but maybe this time will be different. Maybe, this time, I'll just sit back and watch the friends flock to me.

Wrong-O pardner.

Clearly, I wasn't thinking logically here. First off, if people were lining up to be friends with me, I'd spend all my time introducing myself and none of my time actually "being friends." This is a phrase that indicates actual hang-outage as opposed to just "having friends." The second problem with my thinking is that I was wallowing in my loneliness, thinking about how my family isn't here, and I've got no one around to give me a good hug when I need one, and whine whine whine whine, when I already know perfectly well that the solution is to get out and make some friends. Duh.

It's so easily said, and yet it's so much easier just to whine about my problem. I can call my friends back in Provo and talk about how amazing DC is, but how it would be just a little better if they were all out here (which is probably true), I can miss my family, and I can sit around in my room at times feeling sorry for myself, or I can do something about it.

Guess what sacrament meeting on Sunday was about? It wasn't really about the atonement, or about Joseph Smith or anything like that. No, no. Sacrament meeting was done by the Welcoming Committee in the ward, and it was about fellowshipping. Yup...that's right. I'm supposed to make friends with people--they told me so over the pulpit. How's that for a direct invitation to step outside of yourself?

So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to stop waiting around for someone to befriend me, and just start "being friends" with as many people on this program as I can. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself--especially when I have no right to do so. I'm living in Washington DC, for the sake of Pete, and doing stuff that I absolutely love. I'm going to stop feeling sad because I can't share all my experiences with my close friends, and just start sharing some of my experiences with those friends who aren't so close yet. How on earth do I expect to make better friends if I don't start trying?

Yeah, so there. Interesting scripture that was used on Sunday:

Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Random side note: Today I bought a bike in VA, and had to bring it back with me on the metro...I'm pretty sure I managed to entertain some strangers there...

Here's to hoping that you guys can get out and make some friends too, and that those of you that I actually know who read this can keep "being friends" with me in the process.