Grocery Store Kindness…

25MAR

  On this rainy, miserable day our typical grocery store trip turned out to be very interesting.  For some reason, my husband is in a “mood” today.  He was fussing at our youngest down one of the aisles and I told him he needed to relax and lay off her for a bit.  The next thing I know he is fussing about the price of chicken and how he doesn’t want to spend that much, blah, blah, blah.  I am slightly embarrassed as there are people around and quite frankly, he was wearing his ass hat today.  Yes you were and I know you will read this.  Anyway, I kept noticing the same man near us.  I am one of those people who writes complete stories for the strangers I see around me in my head.  I noticed his camouflage shirt, his Bass Pro hat, and his white beard.  He had a little list on pink paper, so I decided that his wife had written it for him.  I noticed he didn’t make eye contact, but appeared to be listening to us quietly argue.

The next aisle over, he comes towards us again, only this time he seems to make a decision.  He approaches us, and I had no idea what he was going to say.  He says “Sir, I know you don’t know me, but I feel like doing this today.”  He opens his wallet and pulls out a $50 bill and hands it to my husband.  I am shocked.  My husband, who is typically a good guy, and very honest, thanks the man.  I wondered for a brief second if he would tell him we couldn’t accept it, but I thought that might hurt the man’s feelings.  He shakes his hand and I decided I needed to speak up.  I thanked him and apologized if he heard us arguing over coupons and the price of things.  He said that was okay, he uses coupons too.  He didn’t make eye contact with us again, but I smiled at him as we left the store.

I wanted to ask him if this was brought on by any particular reason, but at the same time, I didn’t want his act to be explained.  He told us he felt like it was something he wanted to do…a good deed.  I understand the need to feel compelled to do something that might be out of your comfort zone and I appreciate the thought behind this.  Thank you Mr. Random Act of Kindness man.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson