Here I was this morning, after arriving at 7:15 AM for my heart-stress test. (with a terrific sinus headache) All went well, except the pounding of my head with each plop, plop, plop of my feet on the tread mill as the angle and speed was increased each three minutes. I was grateful it only took 14 mins to get up to my target heart rate. I'd started with it low, between 55-58 beats per minute. "Oh, you must work out" the tech tells me. (Duh. . . I felt like I'd betrayed myself, as I hate these stress tests and my exercise had only manifested into more time on the treadmill to reach that target heart rate.) What IRONY. By 9 AM, I was free to eat and get something for my headache. I had Sinutab in my truck and The Cracked Egg restaurant was nearby. Bacon, eggs, hash browns and dry, wheat toast sounded very good right then. What? (I'd originally thought of oatmeal from Starbucks, but........... naw, I needed comfort food. I had a headache. I drew the line at biscuits and gravy though; it is goooood there!
As I was eating, I overheard a waitress tell an older woman nearby that someone had paid for her breakfast. She was confused but grateful. A light went on in my head. Just then, another older woman took the booth next to me. It was the sign I was waiting for. With her back to me, she ordered. I couldn't hear and was hoping it wasn't the $23 omelet as I pulled the waiter aside. I told him I want to pay for her breakfast, anonymously, of course. He brought me her bill; it was only $.03 more than mine. I can't explain the warm feeling that came over me as soon as I'd paid for her meal. Without expecting it, my eyes were watery. I didn't expect this feeling. She was still there when I left, so I didn't get to see her reaction. That warmth stayed with me as I returned to complete my heart tests. When done with these, my curiosity got the best of me and I returned to the scene of the deed and talked to the waiter. I asked him how she accepted the news of a free breakfast. He said she was very touched and appreciated it very much. Good, I didn't want her to feel embarrassed.
I debated how to write this, or if I should. I only write it to share my experience, certainly not to brag, after all, I was only paying back what'd happened to me. Anyone who knows me well, knows I'm cheap. (I will not repeat this for anyone wearing glasses with large nose and mustache attached.) (If you're looking for the old neighborhood photo results, scroll down below.)
6 comments:
As someone who knows how cheap you can be, this was a really nice thing for you to do.
Wow, that's really cool! Hopefully other people will continue to pay it forward as well.
My DAD IS AWESOME!!!!
Actually, I don't know that I'd have the nerve to do that. I'm so glad you felt the time was right, I'm sure it made her day.
That's awesome. There are so many people who are struggling right now. I am sure you were an answer to prayer. Thanks for sharing:)
Cool story. What makes it so cool is not just that you paid for an old lady's meal, but you did it amidst stress tests and a pounding headache. At a time when you had every right to think about your own woes, you decided to forget yourself and make someone else happy. Glad you shared!
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