The Fuller Brush Man By Linda Stowe
It was a balmy weekday afternoon in the summer of 1970. My son was down the street playing with neighbor kids and I was sitting on the front porch swing reading the “Can this marriage be saved?” column of the latest Ladies Home Journal magazine. I became aware of someone approaching and looked up to see the most handsome man I’d ever seen in all my 26 years. I was speechless but smiled in response to his big grin as he introduced himself as Ray, my local Fuller Brush man.
I was unaware that I had a Fuller Brush man, much less one who looked like this guy. He carried a sample case and asked if he could join me and show me some of his brushes. Of course, I agreed, my head nodding like a bobblehead doll. Ray settled himself on the swing and opened his sample case to reveal a range of brushes and products as well as a catalog and order book.
Over the next several minutes, I sat with as much poise as I could muster and listened intently as Ray told me about every brush in his case. By the time he left Ray had charmed me into buying way more than my new-divorcee budget could manage. He promised I would get my order in two weeks’ time. I could hardly wait.
On the appointed delivery date, I had bundled my son off to visit his grandmother and I sat waiting nervously on the porch swing. I was wearing my good pink dress, and I looked lovely. I was trying to read a book, but my head popped up every time I heard a car on my busy street. Finally, my heart surged as Ray’s car pulled up in front of my house, but it dropped when I saw a woman get out of the car and approach me. She introduced herself as Gloria, Ray’s wife. I glumly took my package of new brushes and watched Gloria drive away with my check. I never saw either of them again. But that day I had learned a hard lesson about life and myself.
~~~~~~~
Polly here.
Darn that Ray. How dare he have a wife?
There are lessons to be learned from this.
But as each one of us read this story, we may be thinking of a similar situation in our own lives. Maybe it wasn’t the Fuller Brush Man. It could have been the clerk at the department store or the person in the car next to you at the stoplight. Perhaps an actor in a movie.
Humans are attracted to other humans. It is how our world goes.
Female birds are attracted to those bright plumes or the puffy chest males.
Bears fall in love with other bears. Squirrels with squirrels. Some species of animals mate for life.
Sometimes, we are lucky enough to fall in love.
And finding that love is the greatest gift of all.
It is one of the most meaningful experiences in life because it gives us a sense of connection. It gives us a sense of belonging.
Love reminds us that we’re not alone in the world. What a thing it is when we find someone to share life’s highs and lows with.
It helps us grow emotionally and spiritually, pushing us to be kinder, more understanding, and more vulnerable. Love can make life feel richer and more complete.
In a world that can sometimes feel chaotic or uncertain, love gives us something real to hold on to. Love unites our hearts with those of others.
And many times, we are willing to pay a price to make that happen. Even if it comes in the way of a box filled with brushes, we may never need.
