Just don't buy the toilet paper at Walmart.

Remember a few weeks ago when I apologized to AOL users for thinking, after my stint at Blogging Baby, that AOL users weren't very bright? But then, I'd gotten hundreds of well thought out emails from AOL users and they were all well reasoned and well within the normal range of exclamation point usage.

Then yesterday I sat down to do a little work, saw the comments on this and in one hour I'd wasted valuable minutes of my life and also had my faith in mankind completely dissolved. I didn't know there was a Team Walmart, but Holy Shit there is and Team Walmart is pissed.

Moving on.

All through the month of November, every time I complained about something stupid, something very bad would happen to my friend Chrissy's family. Chrissy's husband has heart surgery, I'm whining about the bathroom. I complain about my plumbing, her husband ends up hospitalized for a couple of days with what turns out to be kidney stones. I am horrified by canned salmon and am not sure I can recover from the experience and her brother has a stroke (he is recovering). I get strep throat and think I'm dying, her brother is in a horrible motorcycle wreck (he is recovering).

I started to think I should really stop complaining about stuff to save Chrissy, but then I remembered that's all I do. I complain about things.

Through all these things happening to Chrissy my friends and I sent around frantic emails trying to think of what we could do for our friend. We had such a hard time coming up with anything to do because all we wanted to do was stop all the bad things from happening.

Then I remembered last February when we had a serious blow to our financial ship and Chrissy gave me a big package of toilet paper. Because that was what she had to give me to help us through. The toilet paper didn't fix my problem, it was one less thing to worry about and everytime that toilet paper roll ran out and I pulled another roll from that mammoth package, it made me feel cared for.

No one could fix my problem but they could be standing by, offering me another square, while I went through what I had to and that was comforting.

I made baked macaroni and cheese for Chrissy even though it didn't feel like enough. I offered to have her kids over and I offered to go to the grocery store and I brought extra cupcakes over when I had them and I kept wishing I could just make all of it stop. There's a whole slew of problems which can actually be solved with baked macaroni and cheese. Unfortunately, life handing you several heaping piles of crap isn't one of those things.

But sometimes that's all you can give and if the toilet paper said, "I'm here for you", I'd like to think that baked macaroni and cheese said something along those lines.

Comments

[Heather M]

Wow. I just read some of those Walmart comments. Apparently there are very few of us who watch PBS these days.

[jeanie]

lol - obviously there is something in the magnetic barriers at the Walmart front doors (we don't have Walmart, I am assuming they are like our Targets) that saps away humour!

Good on you for doing the MC for your friend - and just think, maybe your whining STOPPED her relatives from far worse things?

[N8's Mom]

Oh.My.God. I only got to comment #12 on the Wal-mart story and I am gobsmacked. I mean, "Justin" is MY "one more reason" not to shop at Wal-mart.
(I'm going back to read more, just had to comment on that guy..) Oh, an when I'm bored with that, I'll finish reading your post too! :)

[Dirka]

That WalMart crap is ridiculous! People take some things way too seriously, and get WAY too pissed about stuff they read on the internet.

I'll keep your friend Chrissy in my thoughts, and I hope if/when I'm having a tough time, I have a friend like both of you to help me through.

[em]

I think getting food brought to you is a nice thing when you are going through a tough time. I grew up in the Midwest and I think it's a midwestern thing. My mom still does the "I will show you that I love you by cooking for you" thing. It's comforting.

[Nic]

Wow, aren't you just holier than Art Thou?

(I had to repost that--it was too precious for words. I can't take someone seriously who can't spell "despicable" when in a fit of pique. Or not, I suspect).

I've worked for them, and that's why I'll never shop there again. No newspapers where these folks live? Yeow. And the argument that it could happen in any mom-and-pop is specious. But I'm sure it sounds reasonable to people who love the place.

It's lovely of you to make dinners for your friend! I hope that things are looking up for her soon.

[metalmeredith]

Aren't those comments amazing? I spent a good deal of time this weekend reading them word for (sometimes not so much) word to my husband. Both of us just sat, mouths agape, at the ridiculousness of them all. I especially loved the ones from the run on sentence woman who was having problems spelling the most simple of words...nothing like perpetuating the stereotype of WalMart shoppers, eh?

[MelanieinOrygun]

That's... horrifying. And that anybody would make ugly remarks about Juniper is even worse. That child is gorgeous.
I was also horrified to realize that the first commenter's name was "Mel," which I go by from time to time out here in Internetland. So - that wasn't me. Just getting that out there.
And also, I think you're awesome for doing what you can for your friend. In any case, it isn't necessarily the deed, but the intent that conveys your caring and concern. And I'm sure she gets that.

[Sarcastic Journalist]

I love the rude comments...insert eyeroll. People just don't get it, that some of us are just real people trying to do our jobs and personal attacks on us and our parenting skills aren't needed.

Go Team Walmart!

Anyway, perhaps you can try to say really good things, which will reverse the process and only good things will happen to Chrissy.

[procrastamom]

Some of those comments are freaking hilarious...especially the ones by Kim Beasley (you eydeots! I wood soooo werk at Walmart!). I don't know how you deal with them all though. Some peoples children!

[procrastamom]

*blush* My bad. I just realized that it was Dutch who wrote that article. Still the comments...oy. People are truly ridiculous.

[Dawn]

I personally believe that baked Macaroni&Cheese says all of that and much more. I would kill for a great mac and cheese recipe but I don't know anyone who knows how to make it. It's the thought that counts and it was very sweet of you to offer.

RE: The comment from Jeannie....You don't have Wal-mart?? I thought everybody had Wal-mart. Holy Cow.

I'm off to read the Wally world comments.

Dawn

[Lala]

I deeply regret the time I didn't give a lasagna to my friends when we had the big ice storm of 97. I think you did the right thing and maybe you should give her some toilet paper too but maybe you could write words of encouragement on the rolls of toilet paper so when she's on the can and she unravels it she'll have a good laugh thinking of you sitting there, writing on toilet paper.
Sorry for the run on sentence. The reason I didn't give the lasagna was because I was too afraid to drive among the downed power lines and ice.

[Lala]

I don't know why but that comment makes it seem like english is not my first language.

[novimom]

I know the whole Wal-Mart thing wasn't the point of your post. But thank you for adding that part. My god, did I enjoy myself reading those comments!!! I only made it to about 100, but that was plenty of horror, incredulity, eye-rolling and laughing for me for one evening!

Also, I, too, am superstitious about my actions being connected to something totally unrelated or out of my control. Mostly, though, it's not as serious as the things that happened with your friend, Chrissy - more like if I watch UM football or the Tigers play, that means they will lose. So I don't watch.

[Melissa Summers]

I do that too, but with tv shows. If I like a show and don't watch it enough I worry it's been cancelled because I didn't watch it.

Which makes a lot of sense. Like a lot of the things I think.

[Susan]

Toilet paper and baked macaroni and cheese are the glue that binds the best friendships.

Or something like that.

[Suebob Davis]

It's amazing how the little things can make the recipient feel better. The funny thing is that they make the giver feel better, too.

[Goingape]

I can't believe the comments over at the baby are over 400 on that WalMart post. He he, I read it before there were any comments. Just think, I could have been first. Sigh, the sound of fame passing me by.

I tell ya, the biggest blessing in the world is when you can give to a friend who is in need, and they receive it. My group of girlfriends and I recently were able to financially help out one of our struggling friends, and it was the best gift I'm getting this holiday to give money to someone I love!

[maiareads]

Things like what you are doing to help your friend and her family are totally helpful and appreciated. I have been in her shoes (Well not really but you know what I mean) and what a relief it was to have friends who know the family needs to be fed. Even though I have no food in the house and no time or inclination to shop. Sometimes the little things mean the most.

[Hetty]

I'm sorry about your friend Chrissy's run of bad luck. But sometimes it really does help just to know that someone gives a flying rat's ass about all the awful stuff you're going through. I think that both mac & cheese and free toilet paper say that.

[rascoagogo]

You're sweet to bring cupcakes and M&C. Homemade things involving cheese and pasta make everything a little better. Dawn (and anyone else)--The New Best Recipe cookbook from the Cook's Illustrated people has an outstanding recipe. You just sit there going, "I had no idea it could be so good!" Seriously. It's from a food research kitchen where they literally have come up with the very best recipe.

Wal-Mart comments? Oy! Kim Whatsherbutt is the best. I love the one that tries to make it seem like Wal-Mart makes the prices low for us all, whether we shop there or not.

[Meghan]

That is sweet. For some reason the TP got me all misty eyed. I would have never thought of that, but it's a fantastic idea just to help someone out. I will be using it in the future.