Friends, a turkey story for you.

I had to drive quite a ways from where I live to find a vaccination site (perfectly legit, offered by my health provider) and since the appointment time was near lunchtime, I brought my lunch and sat in the parking lot, happily eating it.

Picture 2 acres of asphalt in a corporate office park, near major freeways, a parking lot so big that Amazon stages its delivery vans there and you can watch the drivers park and change into their uniforms (I didn’t even know they had uniforms).

So I am happily munching, with plenty of time before my appointment, when I notice movement in my side mirror, and I glance that way.

Then I glance back, thinking I am imagining things. A very striking black woman, in a candy cane striped red and white wig, white stockings, red shoes, purple dress, red walker, is chasing a turkey around a bright red SUV.

Two things occur to me.

One: the turkey is one of those who attack their reflection in the hub cabs of SUVs (it has to be a large vehicle apparently) assuming it is another male intruding into their territory. But that’s the Toms, and I thought this turkey was female.

Or

Two: This woman and this turkey are very good friends.

I cannot help myself.  I open my door and yell, “Is that your turkey?”

“Yes, but he’s running away from me!” She’s laughing. She’s having fun chasing the turkey, not afraid of it at all.

I cannot tell if the turkey is laughing.

I deeply regret that they disappeared before I was able to snap a photo. I turned away to prevent my lunch from sliding into the footwell, but I am firmly convinced the turkey was coaxed into the shiny red SUV.

I packed up my lunch with the feeling that I was not living the life I could be living. I could be wearing a wig that looks edible, a purple dress, and be laughing as I drive my turkey around town in my ruby SUV.

I got in line 5 minutes early, got the jab, sat in the “are you going to die?” waiting room for the required time, and then started the drive home.

Feeling much cheered by the encounter.