Yesterday I got a free cupcake. It was my birthday, and I managed to be in the right place at the right time. Being free somehow made it taste better than if I had paid for it. But I probably wouldn’t have paid for it.
It reminded me of a stop my husband and I made on a trip to Israel many years ago. We were with a group of clergy traveling on a large tour bus (which was much more fun than it sounds—we made lifelong friends in the back of that bus!) After a long day driving back from some sights in the south, we pulled into a stop for a meal.
“Free French Fries!” said the sign out front in English. “Free French Fries!” said the young man who greeted us as we stepped off the bus. “Free French Fries!” said the cashier who rang up our meals. The meal was the same delicious Middle Eastern food we had eaten all over the country, but with the addition of American-style french fries. I don’t remember the exact cost of the meal, but it was the most expensive one we had by far. The fries were “free!” but everything else cost more. Since then, “Free French Fries!” has been our family’s mantra whenever the cost of something sounds too good to be true.
The cupcake and the memory of the fries made me start a list of what I’ve gotten for free. More items than I can recall, lucky girl that I am. The recollection itself has been free entertainment and has reminded me of stories I want to remember.
a writing prompt
What have you gotten for free? My list so far includes:
- a cupcake yesterday
- french fries in Israel
- Ray Charles concert tickets
- a misdelivered hand blender I got to keep
- 8 free flights when we gave up our seats 2 days in a row
- a sabbatical grant
- grace
Make a list of what you have gotten for free, then choose one or more and write about it.
