There's no place like home...
It's the small unexpected moments that remind of the magic of a place. Waiting patiently in line at the grocery, I'm in a hurry, but waiting, and the young woman in front of me cannot figure out why her debit card doesn't work. I can relate; many a time I've tried to use mine and wonder of wonders, the amount I need to spend doesn't match up what the bank says is there at that moment, even if I just came from the bank....technology sometimes does not catch up to our needs.
She tells the clerk to put back the block of expensive Vermont cheddar cheese, and she digs out cash for the rest of her purchase. I look at her with an understanding smile: "it's ok, it happens to me all the time." As she gathers her groceries, the clerk rings up my one item, and lo and behold, I'm 13 cents short. "Really?" I ask amazed that yet again another much needed commodity has gone up in price in one day. "Hang on one minute and I'll run to the car and get the change."
I've become a master at digging out pennies from the cracks in the seats, finding a filthy 8 cents under the floor mat, wiping spilled pop off of three pennies stuck together in the cup holder, prying them loose to give to the cashier. I'm sure I can round up 13 cents.
To my surprise, the woman in front of me, who was short on her own purchase, says, "No need, I've got it here. You don't have to run to the car."
I assure her it's ok, I don't mind, especially after having witnessed her own cash shortfall.
She's already pulled the change out of her pink wallet and handed it to the clerk.
I thank her profusely and say, "that was really kind of you."
"It's a sad day when neighbors can't help neighbors. Just pay it forward sometime."
We chat as we walk to the car, I thank her again and a smile fills me up. It had been a really tough day up until this moment of magic.
These types of kindnesses seem to happen a lot here in this small town. This is second time someone in the grocery line spotted me 13 cents. I've repaid the kindness and given others quarters, nickles, dimes. I can hardly imagine a complete stranger in a big city doing the same, but I hope there are people out there who take a moment to help another person when they least expect it.
