How I love living in greater Washington, D.C.! There is absolutely no excuse for boredom in a city with this history, arts for every expression, ethnic diversity and shopping beyond my wildest dreams. And, like adding whipped cream and a cherry on top of an ice cream sundae, every once in a while some stranger does some random act of kindness that makes living here even more fascinating.
It took a trip to Bellefontaine, Ohio, last month to realize that those random acts of kindness are business as usual in my hometown.
I flew home for six days to hang out with my favorite alpha male, my daddy, while mom had surgery. Now, living for a week without a Starbucks on every corner was a tad intimidating. Once I landed in Buckeye territory I devised a plan to combat the inevitable withdrawal.
Step one required a trip to Kroger to stock up on comfort foods. Before I could say “no” when the cashier asked if I was a Kroger club member, a voice behind me said, “You can use mine.” An elderly and unknown woman, Kroger card in hand, stood ready to swipe it on my behalf to save me a few bucks.
Later that day I checked out the YMCA and chatted with the nice lady behind the service counter about why I was visiting my hometown. Once again, before I could pay, she signed four day passes and gave them to me, saying, “Here, just take these.” No, I’d never met her before either.
And the list goes on. There’s another nice lady at Napa Auto Parts on Main Street, who ran after me in the parking lot to tell me she did locate the $120 car part I needed after all, then cheerfully told me not to worry about it when I called her 30 minutes later to cancel it – after she’d already ordered it from Virginia (and would, no doubt, have to absorb the wholesale and shipping costs). And there’s all the patient waiters and waitresses, the hospital staff, and all of you who held the door open for Daddy and me as we shuffled about town.
So to all of you, thank you. Thank you for reminding me that random acts of kindness aren’t random in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and in small towns across America.
I still adore you, Washington, D.C., and you’ve got me as long as you’ll have me. And for that reason I challenge us – let’s try to be a little more like Bellefontaine.
Jane Hess is a free-lance writer. You can send your comments to jane@getoutandgiveback.com
I’m glad you notice and cherish all the sweet little things that people do. Random act of kindness are the best. Who knew I lived in such a sweet town!