Yesterday, the day before Thanksgiving, I had a fun trip to the grocery store. As suspected the store was full of people, but I needed a few things so I braved the crowd.

When I picked up what I needed, I proceeded to get in the checkout line. As I set my stuff down on the belt, I heard someone right behind me. Since I am always a little concerned about walking in front of others because of my vision issues, I turned and asked the young lady behind me if I had crowded. 

She said, “No and if you did, I would tell you.”

I said, “Good for you.”

With that we chatted a bit while waiting and she said she was hosting her family at her house for Thanksgiving for the first time and had to get home and clean the house.

“Nothing like waiting until the last minute,” I said.

She laughed, but sounded a little stressed. 

When it was my turn to have my groceries scanned I told the clerk to add the young lady’s stuff to my bill. 

I guess I have back up a bit. Yokes usually has a table full of food bags made up for purchase for the food bank every holiday, but this year they didn’t. I always purchase a couple of these bags, so now what do I do. 

Back to the story.

Immediately, this lady said, “I didn’t need you to do that.”

I said, “Yes, I do.”

She just looked at me sort of confused and I could see her eyes were starting to tear up and she said, “I’m going to cry.”

I said, “Hey, there’s no crying in the grocery store.”

Then she said, “What can I do for you?”

I looked at her and said, “Enjoy your family tomorrow.”

She looked at me and asked, “Can I hug you?”

“Sure you can,” I said.

With that she gave me the greatest I hug, and she was crying.

Then I said, “Enjoy tomorrow.” And left for the door.

That felt really good.

Ken Kaiyala
11-24-2022

Postscript: I try to do a small act of kindness every day.  Sometimes those receiving it look at me suspiciously….but WTF…let them wonder.