I have a really amazing mom. Seriously. She was in town a couple of weeks ago and while we were waiting to check out at the grocery store there was an older teenager in front of us who was having a problem with her bank card. Without missing a beat, my mom said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay for it.”
The girl didn’t protest too much, and I’m pretty sure she said a little “thank you” as she left the line and hustled out of the store. I think she did…I didn’t hear her…but I’m sure she must have said something. (Though she may have been too busy texting a friend, “OMG…some lady just totally bought my groceries for me!!!”)
This is the norm for my mom. I remember when I was little and my mom worked for United airlines. It wasn’t uncommon for her to BRING PEOPLE TO OUR HOUSE TO SLEEP if they missed their flight.
Anyway, have you ever noticed how things happen in twos?? It happens to me all the time. The following week I was at the grocery store and an older gentleman in this 80s was checking out…and yep…having problems with his bank card. He kept sliding it through the machine over and over and it wouldn’t work. He didn’t have a checkbook on him or any cash. I could tell he was getting frustrated. The cashier kept telling him that the card didn’t work…but he just wasn’t getting it. He kept sliding that card for all it was worth.
I made eye contact with the cashier and mouthed, “I’ll get it.” She looked at me like I was crazy. I finally finished bagging my own groceries and maneuvered to the other aisle. I put my hand on this man’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry about it…I’ll get it for you.” I noticed he had a foreign accent. This is where my heart really went out to him. I’ve lived in a foreign country a couple of times and it’s terrible to have a language barrier! He thought I meant that I would swipe his card and keep saying over and over again how he just didn’t understand why it wasn’t working.
Claire was in my cart trying to eat a plastic bag…I had to hurry! So, I quickly swiped my card, told him to have a good day and started out to my car. As I was at my car loading the bags into my trunk, I saw this man working his way over to me. He didn’t move very fast. When he finally reached me, with a tear in his eye he thanked me for helping him and asked for my address so he could send me a check.
A few days later I received this:
And that is how you say “thank you.” Write a note today…it’s a lost art!
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