People do care

This story of how people do care happened today, April 25th, 2012. This writer was in the local grocery market, in our tiny little lake town. I was literally running through the isles getting stuff, already on the verge of being late to speak to 200 some high school seniors about addiction education. Any way, I'm flying out the door, and this elderly person was ahead of me pushing his cart with his wife right behind him. They had to be 80 plus something. This man was hunched over and could barely walk. I asked the couple if I could push his cart to their car and help unload their supplies. The woman turned to me, and said her husband had to use the cart as walker, which he does have a walker and cane to walk. The cart's wheels make it easy for him to move, she respectfully noted. Then she said you can still walk me to our car. I obliged. She reminded me of my late grandmother as I listened to her talk about her dislike of people in her coffee group at the market. I then was ready to wish them a good day, and she reached into her purse and pulled out a $10.00 bill. She proceeded to give it to me, I said I cant take this. She said you will. I said I cant, but I really appreciate the gesture. She then said as her husband looked at me, you take it, or I will give you more. I said I will use it for my morning group donuts up north with my Native American friends. She then looked at me and said, "can I give you more". I almost lost it right there, tears were in my eye. I asked if I could give her hug, she reached over instead and gave me one. She was 84, her husband 86. I don't know why this happened today, but I do know it happened on my mother's birthday! People do care. Stay in your health, stay in the moment.