A friend of mine tells a story that fascinates me for the way it represents a truth of life. The image is powerful and lodges in the mind.
Years ago my friend was invited out by a good-looking man who appealed to her immensely. By all appearances he was intelligent, charming, witty and many other qualities she admired in a man. The much anticipated moment arrived as he came by to pick her up.
Riding along in his car, they were having a perfectly delightful time. The conversation was engaging and the more they talked, the more her hopes rose that this would be the relationship for which she had been waiting.
Suddenly, he rolled down the window, took the Pepsi can from which he had been drinking and casually tossed it out the window.
In that one moment of time, with that one simple act, everything changed. Any feelings she had for him, any respect, any interest, romantic or otherwise, went right out the window with the Pepsi can. That single event burst the bubble and ended it all. She never saw him again, nor did she want to.
She would later use that incident as an object lesson for her daughter. For years they have continued to speak of those Pepsi-can-out-the-window moments. All it takes is one crass action, one selfish, thoughtless remark or deed to dash all respect or feeling for someone.
Have you ever had a Pepsi-can-out-the-window moment? I have thought about this so many times since I first heard the story. More than once I have found myself thinking, “Well, THAT was a Pepsi-can-out-the-window moment!” Have you had one of those moments lately? Any you’d care to share? Have you ever been guilty of a Pepsi-can-out-the-window moment?
Pepsi Can Moments
Years ago my friend was invited out by a good-looking man who appealed to her immensely. By all appearances he was intelligent, charming, witty and many other qualities she admired in a man. The much anticipated moment arrived as he came by to pick her up.
Riding along in his car, they were having a perfectly delightful time. The conversation was engaging and the more they talked, the more her hopes rose that this would be the relationship for which she had been waiting.
Suddenly, he rolled down the window, took the Pepsi can from which he had been drinking and casually tossed it out the window.
In that one moment of time, with that one simple act, everything changed. Any feelings she had for him, any respect, any interest, romantic or otherwise, went right out the window with the Pepsi can. That single event burst the bubble and ended it all. She never saw him again, nor did she want to.
She would later use that incident as an object lesson for her daughter. For years they have continued to speak of those Pepsi-can-out-the-window moments. All it takes is one crass action, one selfish, thoughtless remark or deed to dash all respect or feeling for someone.
Have you ever had a Pepsi-can-out-the-window moment? I have thought about this so many times since I first heard the story. More than once I have found myself thinking, “Well, THAT was a Pepsi-can-out-the-window moment!” Have you had one of those moments lately? Any you’d care to share? Have you ever been guilty of a Pepsi-can-out-the-window moment?