Jonathan Meyer.

Over the summer I found myself in quite the squirmish to get my hands on a copy of the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle. I admit I can be a bit particular with how I like things, routine is very important for me. A part of my morning routine is to pick up a copy of the paper from a local convenience store on my way to work Friday mornings. This random morning was different though.

Without mentioning exactly where I was, I will say this convenient store prides itself on being “Kwik” and a “Star”. I do not want to mention the name as it’s not important, this store will remain anonymous in my retelling.

I filled up with some fuel to start with, I probably bought five or six gallons before heading inside to pick up my favorite morning indulgence, vitamin water and a hot breakfast sandwich. I glanced at the newsstand as I walked in and it looked pretty dang empty, but not much crossed my mind.

With my breakfast in hand I waited in line and went to grab the paper when it was my turn. Bending over I noticed the Friday edition of the News Chronicle was not there in its usual slot. A few copies of last week’s edition were still in the slot but nothing was current.

While I don’t doubt this paper could sell out the morning of, it seemed pretty atypical. A bit flustered I asked the cashier at the checkout and she said “everything we have is out on the stand” before she could even finish her sentence I noticed out of the corner of my eye, a stack of freshly bound newspaper sitting on the counter behind her.

Now that would be a bit of a silly story BUT there is more to unpack here. I mention that this week’s paper is on the counter behind her and she says, without even looking, “no that is last week’s”. I can’t fault this employee for standing her ground, customer service is no joke of a profession. However, I just wanted a copy of the dang paper!

As an athlete I do get a bit competitive and this Friday morning, the game was on. I then throughout my next attempt to get the paper in my hand. I told her what the cover story on the paper was and asked her to go check. Normal people might have thrown out a date, but me, someone who wrote the cover story that week, went right to the omniscient approach.

Without missing a beat she responded, “Sir I’m pretty sure I took those out of the stand this morning, they are from last week.”

Nearly admitting defeat, I started to pay for my breakfast as my savior strolled in behind the counter. The second employee said over her shoulder, “Was this the copy you wanted sir?”, as she held up the copy of the paper I was looking to get my hands on. HALLELUJAH!

With both employees around they asked why I cared so much about getting the newspaper as a young man (a rather handsome young man as my mom would say!).

With the paper in hand, I pointed to the byline and read “Jonathan Meyer” and said I help write the dang thing!