Our microwave broke yesterday. It told us “I’m dying” by emiting lightning and strobing, pulsating light that easily duplicated any 1970’s era roller rink when “Funky Town” was playing. No forks or metal were involved. It just decided to go out in a blaze of glory, unlike our previous microwave that quietly slipped away…

Hubby spent his lunch hour buying a new microwave. He brought it home, hooked it up, and I christened it with a plate of frozen meatballs, which probably disappointed it very much. It wouldn’t say so because it is the most polite microwave. Ever.

When my meatballs were done, the little screen said “Enjoy Your Meal”.

Too bad our appliances have become more civilized than, oh, say, ladies attending a Christian Women’s Conference. Even our DVD player, when turned on, says Welcome to DVD World.

I took Aidan to Payless shoes on Sunday afternoon. They are having the drool-worthy BOGO half-off event. She picked out her shoes and it was my turn to find a pair. As I tried on a pair, Aidan said “those look like water shoes!” and I said “I guess I won’t be getting them!” and laughed. A lady in the same aisle, trying on winter boots, laughed too. She looked at me and said “were you at the Women of Faith conference?”

I was very surprised and said I was, pulling at my Nichole Nordeman (who performed) t-shirt. “How did you like it?” I asked.

“I am never going to another conference with other women again!” she answered.

“Oh…” was all I could manage.

“I went with two other women and they didn’t speak to me the whole time. They sat in back of me. Then there were two young girls in front of me who kept making fun of everyone who walked by…”

“I am sorry…”

Clearly, she was disillusioned. And so was I.

She continued, telling me of how one of the women invited her, but at the last minute the other woman invited herself. It was one of those uncomfortable “three’s a crowd” situations. She was so down, but continued trying on boots. One especially furry pair made her laugh.

She continued telling me about moments that touched her and moments that made her think. One of the speakers, Marilyn Meberg, talked about friendship. The lady in Payless said she realized she didn’t really have true friends like Marilyn Meberg.

I told her I was so sorry, again. I mentioned that I really liked the water shoes, but didn’t want to get them. She asked where I would wear them.

“The grocery store, around the house…” I said.

“You should get them,” she told me.

“I going to!” I answered, glad to have an affirmation that they weren’t the ugliest shoes on the planet.

Friends give each other shoe advice. Even friends for five minutes.

But I didn’t get her name. Where she lives. What she does for a living. I paid and left, saying “it was nice talking to you.”

I am not much of a friend.

I go on and on about how Christians treat each other, and non-believers, horribly. And I am no different.