Tales of the Three NUTketeers (and other Nutty Buddies)
Magadamia Nut here, with the latest from the hazelnut highways of the West. As a born and bred Cheesehead (On, Wisconsin!), I haven’t spent much time outside of the great Midwest, and I’ve grown up hearing stereotypes about other regions of the country. However, as my two months on the pistachiroads have proven, people everywhere are more similar than they are different, and I’ve made some amazing nutty buddies so far!
The Three NUTketeers: Peconner, me and Extra Salted Elise
While in Rawlins, Wyoming my team and I did an interview with the Rawlins Daily Times. We were stoked because this was our very first interview on the job, and ended up talking to the reporter for a long time afterward. He told us that he had graduated high school with a sixth grade reading level, but thanks to a teacher who believed in him, went on to graduate college and become a successful journalist. We were really inspired by his story, but even more moved when he showed up at our event the next day with complimentary copies of the Rawlins Daily Times and a mysterious envelope. He explained to us that we had made a huge impact on him and the people of Rawlins simply by talking and listening to them, and that inside the envelope was a note that we should give to someone that we meet on the road who needs some hope and encouragement. I was blown away by the kindness he showed us and his desire to spread that to others.
Our article in the Rawlins Daily Times and the note from the reporter!
We also met a local artist in Medford, Oregon who stopped by our event to Shout For Nuts and grab a salty snack. Before leaving, she gave us three painted stones — my favorite had Pikachu on it — and asked us to take them with us on our travels and leave them somewhere for another person to find. We talked to her for a long time and found out that painting rocks and hiding them is a trend in the Northwest and that the rocks can actually be tracked on Facebook. She also told us that even though it is cool to see where her art ends up, she does it to make others happy and bring unexpected joy to their days. She certainly achieved this with us when she came back to our event a few hours later and gave us our very own rock with the NUTmobile painted on it. I have no plans of leaving our NUTmobile rock somewhere for others to find because I’m too attached to it, but one thing I do plan to share is this artist’s desire to spread joy and make others’ day during my year with the NUTmobile!
The NUTMobile rock (and some beautiful Oregon scenery)
Last, but surely not least, is my friend, Matt Khaddor, who my team and I met in Anaheim, California. We met Matt when he came to take pictures with the NUTmobile, and he told us he is a Disney Cast Member. When he found out that I had never been to Disneyland, he didn’t miss a beat in inviting us all to to the park the next day with three free tickets! We spent the next day at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, and we all hit it off with Matt so much that he decided to spend the whole day with us and even pulled some strings to get us to the front of several lines. The following Monday — which also happened to be my birthday — we were about to hit the road for our drive to San Francisco, when there was a knock on our hotel door. Extra Salted Elise opened it, and Matt walked in singing happy birthday with a huge birthday cupcake for me in hand! It’s not everyday you make instant friends with someone like my team did with Matt, and I am looking forward to meeting up with him again next time we are in Southern California!
Waiting in line for Toy Story Mania with Matt!
The open, kind and welcoming nature of the people we meet on the salty streets never ceases to amaze me. I feel like one lucky nut to work for a brand that is all about making magic for others, and I am so thankful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportuNUTy. Don’t forget: there’s no such thing as strangers, only nutty buddies you haven’t met yet.
Stay Nutty!
Magadamia NUT