How to Quantify Good Care
I went to the Farmer's Market today, because I wanted some fresh corn, and the produce section at our Super Wally World sucks.
"How much is the corn?" I inquired of the sweet farmer lady with the huge pickup truck bed full of ears of corn.
"Six fo' two dolla or a dozen fo' tree," she said.
I told her that six was plenty and handed her two bucks. She counted out eight ears and handed them to me in a gently used Wally World plastic bag.
"I think you gave me a couple more than I paid for," says I, not wanting to cheat the sweet farmer lady out of 50 cents worth of corn.
"Oh, I knows," she replied. "I did it a purpose. You took care of mama in the 'Mergency Room over Christmas time when she done had her stroke. You brang me a blanket and some coffee when they didn't have no rooms to put her in upstairs. I jest wanted ta say thanks."
A short discussion later I found out that mama was back at the farm, no worse for the wear. In fact, if I come back next week for some more corn, I could talk to her myself, because she'd prolly be there. I said I would try to do so, bid her farewell, and went on my way.
So now you know. A cup of hot coffee and a warm blanket is worth two ears of corn.
And it was damn good corn, too.
