<![CDATA[Once upon a time.]]>Once upon a time.
Today.
There was a very Trumpy rural town.
This small fruit stand is sometimes on the sidewalk in front of the parking lot of a chain pizza business.
I always stop and buy something.
Always.
This time while I was buying cherries a police officer showed up. The fruit vendor didn't understand that he was telling her that the pizza business had asked the police to remove her from in front of their business.
I understood.
I offered to help move her stand the one foot that would be required to comply.
As I started moving oranges and mangos other people stopped to help. Eventually even the officer came back to help us.
We got it done.
I took this photo to share with my husband and to help explain how I came to pay $100 for a small bag of cherries.
Things are changing in a good way.
I felt it today like an earthquake.

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/e51efafd-34c4-419b-bfd9-8c08772a5c95/once-upon-a-time.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 09:12:16 GMTSat, 25 Apr 2026 00:29:43 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:34:52 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2

Our fruit vendor was set up on the corner yesterday for the first time this spring. My son is always excited for fresh fruit, so we'll be stopping by after chores today!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/jhaworth/statuses/116465604528705844https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/jhaworth/statuses/116465604528705844Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:34:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:31:18 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 One whole foot - the sheer pettiness of the pizza place - I’m so glad I don’t like mass produced pizza anywhere. At least the cops assisted in getting everything moved, and didn’t arrest her and her baby. Thank you for the story and for all the good people who helped.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.wales/users/HarriettMB/statuses/116464882731495329https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.wales/users/HarriettMB/statuses/116464882731495329Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:31:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:15:33 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 🌈

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/grmon/statuses/116464348897127404https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/grmon/statuses/116464348897127404Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:15:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:08:33 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 that’s Mastodon:
- you’re such a wonderful person 🥰
- BURN THAT PIZZA PLACE!!!!11!1! 🤬
In harmony side by side…

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/ui3o/statuses/116464085466694386https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/ui3o/statuses/116464085466694386Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:08:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:43:46 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 Thank You for helping ❤️

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Aileen22/statuses/116463988004980794https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Aileen22/statuses/116463988004980794Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:43:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:34:26 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 A good deed, nice work! But what was the $100?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/megatronicthronbanks/statuses/116463951305833004https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/megatronicthronbanks/statuses/116463951305833004Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:34:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:25:55 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 well done. And yeah, maybe, just maybe, some humanity is peeking out again. Wonderful thing to encourage

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/msw117r22/statuses/116463917821645083https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/msw117r22/statuses/116463917821645083Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:25:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:27:42 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 Holy mother of based

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/renardboy/statuses/116463688888716656https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/renardboy/statuses/116463688888716656Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:27:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:22:31 GMT]]>@hittitezombie
Two legs of her table were on the edge of their parking lot. It wasn't clear where their paved area and the sidewalk converged. The police wanted her to move a foot to be sure she was on the public pavement per the business request that she was completely off their private property.
I asked the officer if he intended to arrest her and if I needed to get my whistle out. He said they were not interested in anything more than where her business was operating.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/NorcalGma2/statuses/116463668531485600https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/NorcalGma2/statuses/116463668531485600Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:22:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:16:08 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2
I don't get it, why did the police had to comply with the Pizza shop's request and enforce such an action?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/hittitezombie/statuses/116463643455733922https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/hittitezombie/statuses/116463643455733922Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:16:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:11:30 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 wonderful story, thank you

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/giantspecks/statuses/116463625232840765https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/giantspecks/statuses/116463625232840765Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:11:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:45:04 GMT]]>@interpipes

to move one. foot. over.

@NorcalGma2

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/ProcessParsnip/statuses/116463521273839014https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/ProcessParsnip/statuses/116463521273839014Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:45:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:20:26 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 @FiddleSix

I am glad you are here where you are appreciated!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://zeroes.ca/users/NilaJones/statuses/116463424436495651https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://zeroes.ca/users/NilaJones/statuses/116463424436495651Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:20:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:16:10 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 What an inspiring story!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/ai6yr/statuses/116463407624204046https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/ai6yr/statuses/116463407624204046Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:16:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:14:57 GMT]]>@NilaJones @FiddleSix
Thank you!
No one has ever complimented my writing until I dropped in here to Mastodon.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/NorcalGma2/statuses/116463402838262669https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/NorcalGma2/statuses/116463402838262669Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:14:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:14:54 GMT]]>@jeridansky @NorcalGma2 What town is this?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/msbellows/statuses/116463402641667875https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/msbellows/statuses/116463402641667875Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:14:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:11:34 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 @FiddleSix

Oy, standing all day on that pavement with the baby on her back!

> I felt it today like an earthquake

You are a wonderful writer. And a wonderful person

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://zeroes.ca/users/NilaJones/statuses/116463389571427813https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://zeroes.ca/users/NilaJones/statuses/116463389571427813Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:11:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:07:43 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2

Aw that's so sweet! ❤️

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/IAmDannyBoling/statuses/116463374419285815https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/IAmDannyBoling/statuses/116463374419285815Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:07:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:31:55 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2

Most good people only need the smallest push. Thanks for pushing.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/troy_frizzell/statuses/116463233640867640https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/troy_frizzell/statuses/116463233640867640Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:31:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:18:45 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 wonderful

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/carolleisa/statuses/116463181862241533https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/carolleisa/statuses/116463181862241533Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:18:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:24:20 GMT]]>@revndm @NorcalGma2 💯

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/PamelaBarroway/statuses/116462967865824190https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/PamelaBarroway/statuses/116462967865824190Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:24:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:56:44 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2
I must admit my heart was in my throat for a moment. I dreaded where this story was seemingly headed. The joyfully soaring "Yes!" when I saw how it turned out was wonderful! Thank you for stepping in to start the better action, leading the way for the others to join in.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/CommonSparrow/statuses/116462859376131875https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/CommonSparrow/statuses/116462859376131875Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:56:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:43:12 GMT]]>@PamelaBarroway @NorcalGma2 this is how we win

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://queer.cool/users/revndm/statuses/116462806140559936https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://queer.cool/users/revndm/statuses/116462806140559936Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:43:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Once upon a time. on Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:42:42 GMT]]>@NorcalGma2 Americans are wonderful people. Warts and all. Evidence is in your story. Thanks for being you and sharing.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/Beachbum/statuses/116462804160985842https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/Beachbum/statuses/116462804160985842Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:42:42 GMT