Truly Nice People

I think most of us are nice enough folks. Some are not, but most of us at least "pass" for nice in our society. Some are exceptional. I was in Walmart the other day and noticed a shopping cart full of stocking caps and cloth gloves--"Sale." I noticed some guy standing there going through them. I went to the checkstand and he ended up behind me in line with a whole pile of hats and gloves in his cart. The guy was about my age.. maybe a tad older. He had a chest-long raggedy grey beard (not sure how one that long could not be raggedy). He had on a well-used coat and levis. My initial impression was that he likely had seen better days. I am great for generalizations like that. Anyway, I said with a smile, "Hard to have too many hats and gloves!"

He smiled. "10 cents apiece on closeout. I bought 50 of each. I am going to give them to the school near my house for kids who lose their winter stuff. I figure I can keep 50 kids warm for 5 bucks. Not a bad deal!"

I suddenly felt pretty thoughtless. He was obviously in a higher category than I. I paid for my stuff and, as an afterthought, pulled out $5 and offered it to him. "Let me chip in on your good deed."

"No," he said, smiling, "You need to take that $5 and go buy 50 to deliver yourself." He was obviously a couple categories up on the list from me.

I should have taken him up on it, but did not. I am not sure how much the $5 meant to him, but he not only had the good thought, he pulled through. Impressive. I need to figure a way to do my own good deed and get at least even in the game.