I love random acts of kindness and generosity. Years ago I would load up a Rise Up gift card and frequent the drive thru kiosk in St. Micheals. For quite some time I would pay for the car behind me. I would ask the person working the drive thru to tell the customer a complete stranger paid for their morning ritual. It was so fun! I would giggle like a five year old thinking about how these people would react when they were told that their tab was taken care of by an anonymous person.
We recently witnessed a lovely and thoughtful act of kindness. Two women came in for lunch to celebrate the end of a lovely summer and the beginning of their semester in college. They sat on the porch, ate lunch, had a leisurely glass of wine and thoroughly enjoyed their civilized afternoon. They were seated next to a couple who frequent Out of the Fire whose names I won’t mention because I don’t have their permission! The couple, on a whim, decided that they wanted to pick up the tab of the two women enjoying their outing. The couple wanted it to be anonymous. When the women were told that someone had taken it upon themselves to treat them to a lovely lunch they began to cry tears of joy. They were so touched by this spirit of generosity. They asked us for a notecard so they could properly thank the couple. It was such a beautiful and generous act to witness.
Richard and I were in Point Reyes in February of 2020 right before COVID ramped up. We always enjoy visiting local and independently owned bookstores. While we were in Point Reyes Books I overheard a young kid (he was 9 or 10 years old) asking the total price of three books he had placed on the counter. Two of the books were for his friends birthday and the other book was for himself. The total of the three books exceeded his budget. He asked if they could be held for him while he went to search for his mother to ask her for additional funds. I was behind him in line and when he left I told the manager that I would like to buy the three books for him. I was afraid he wouldn’t come back. I checked back 2 hours later and was informed that he did, indeed return to the bookstore. When he was told that someone had purchased the books for him he was speechless. He asked the manager, “why would someone who doesn’t know me buy my books?” Her response was, “maybe this person could tell you are a really good person!” His question back to her was, “Do you think it is because of my kidliness?” She laughed and said, “YES!”
His “kidliness” prompted my act of kindness.
Comments