I forgot to tell you this story. It happened about a week ago (I can't exactly remember the date, last weekend maybe?).
If you have been reading this blog, and I know some of you must be because you have said something in passing, or messaged me with kind words :), you might remember my 25th birthday post about my quest to complete 25 intentional acts of kindness on my actual birthday. I didn't actually complete all 25....a stolen phone the night before, a late start, and some unplanned events the day of made it difficult to do all of them. I did, however, complete 9 of them, and had the intent to complete a 10th one, but was unable to follow through on it.
Why might you ask? Well, it is listed as completed Intentional Act of Kindness #8 in this post- The one where I bought a sandwich and a drink for a man that stands on the corner in front of the Walgreens down the street from me.
Here's what I said about it:
8. Bought a man a sandwich and a drink for lunch at Jewel. I didn't actually get to give it to him
though :( There is this man that stands on a corner off of 21 every once in a while with a sign that
says "Need a job to pay for gas and food" and it just breaks my heart. Every time I see him, or
that corner in general, I send good thoughts for him out in to the universe. So when I saw him on
my birthday, I said, "Tommy. We are going to Jewel to get him lunch." and my wonderful
husband drove me right away to Jewel. Then, when we pulled up to his corner, he was GONE. I
was initially sad that I didn't get to help him, but Tommy said he was probably gone because he
had a job for the day, which made me feel a little better. So we both sent out some kind thoughts
for him and kept going for the day.
It turns out that about a week ago, I saw this man again on my way home from the post office. In fact, I normally take the back roads home from the post office, and for some reason, that day I decided to take the main road home. That's when I saw him standing on the corner with his sign: "Need a job to pay for gas and food. Mechanic"
I instantly went to Mariano's, bought a sandwich and a water, and quickly drove over to the Walgreen's parking lot. I was so nervous that he wouldn't be there, and when I pulled up I saw him walking to his car and folding his sign up. I jumped out of my car and practically ran over to him and said, "Excuese me, sir? Hi. How are you?" and he was startled, and said, "I'm fine." So I said, "Well, I have seen you out here a few times and I'm sorry I can't offer you a job, but can I offer you lunch?" He replied, "um, yes, thank you." and took the grocery bag. I didn't really know what else to say, so I asked him if he was from around here. He was not, and said that he only drives up here once in a while to find work. I said, "Ok, well, good luck. I hope you find work soon. Have a good day" and left all awkward. And then he went to his car, sat in the front seat, and started eating his sandwich. And that was that.
Not only am I thankful for a pantry full of food, and the ability to buy the food I both need and want at the grocery store, but I am thankful that I was able to buy food for this man that cannot do that for himself right now. I don't know his circumstances, but that doesn't really matter. I'm just thankful that I had a chance to buy him lunch that day after missing the opportunity on my birthday.
*P.S.- My phone that got stolen? Well, the police caught the thieves, we had a trail, and they own me $500 that they are supposed to pay over the next 6 months...
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