After years of exchanging comments on ActiveRain blog posts, endless phone calls, emails, and planning ...
The day arrives – June 14, 2025. Such a historical day: Flag Day, the Army’s 250th Anniversary, Donald J. Trump’s 79th Birthday, J.D. Vance’s Wedding Anniversary, AND the day I have long waited for, the day I meet Dr. Paula McDonald.
We planned to meet on the last part of their trip to California. Paula, her husband, and son drove from Southern California to San Jose to meet in person.
I'm anxious and excited, just watching the clock as I watch the Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade on television. I learned a lot about our Nation’s history watching the parade. Unknown to me, I was about to learn a lot about Dr. Paula.
We meet at 6:00 pm at a Bar & Grill Paula chose from a list of suggested restaurants. Of course, she chose the most expensive restaurant. It's the kind of place where the menu has names like "artisan distressed kale" and "locally whispered salmon." Fancy, right? I’m thinking, Okay, this is a treat, and I deserve it.
Dinner starts great. We cheer with our drinks - those that cost more because they have mint leaves dramatically hovering over the ice.
The Pointless Gift With a Price Tag
We catch up on their trip to California, discussing how expensive Santa Barbara is, why Paula and her son spoil one dog over the other, how/why I specialize in probate real estate, and all sorts of things. We all enjoyed the appetizer, meal, and dessert.
Then it happens.
The check arrives as Mark gets up and excuses himself. Paula made no move toward the check. As time passes, Mark is nowhere to be found. I slide the check over, pick it up, and study it. We ordered so much that it looked like a CVS receipt.
I sit there in disbelief as the bill sits there, as I am thinking ...
I subtly ask, "Where is Mark? Is he okay? Should we check on him?" as I slide the check closer to her side of the table. And then she casually says, “You’ve got this, right?"
At that moment, I remembered the ActiveRain Point Store is still Open. I said YES, I've got this. I am gifting 300,000 ActiverRain points to pay the bill.
Show Me a True Friend
Mr. Crappy is at it again. If you believe any of the bull 💩 about the check, it is as fictional as Miss Anna "Banana" Kruchten 🍌🍌🍌 point store and the June Point Store Challenge hosted by Anna and Debe Maxwell, CRS. We are asked to be creative and have FUN!
The truth is, Mark, long before the check arrived, had pulled out his credit card to pay the bill.
Meeting my ActiveRain friend Paula McDonald after all these years made my heart happy. She is everything and more in person than she is online and talking over the phone. Her husband Mark is a true gentleman, husband, father, and leader. Her son is not only a handsome young man, but he is an aspiring professional and is ever so blessed by his parents, Mark and Paula.
Paula, I love you. I am blessed to know you and call you a friend. Thank you for making your way to San Jose to meet me, thank you for the autographed copy of your book, and other gifts, and thank you and Mark for dinner.
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