Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.
Arthur Schopenhauer

I popped into Walgreen's today on my lunch break to pick up a few things and took my place at the end of a loooong line. One register open, of course.

So this elderly gentleman in front of me (with his cart full of Scott's toliet paper on sale, just like my mother!) said, "Please, dear, go ahead."

I was shocked. When I politely declined he replied, "I'm retired. I've got all day to stand here but I bet you have to get back to work! Please, go ahead."

How nice is that?! It just made my day. When I'm old, retired and with plenty of time I'll be sure to do the same. I appreciated those extra minutes to get my errands done and head to the office.

Then he proceeded to talk to his wife at a high decibel on his cell phone, "What? I said I'm at the Walgreen's. Yes, I've got all the toilet paper I can handle."

But it was okay, I didn't mind a bit. He had a free loud-cell-phone-talking-pass from me!

11 comments:

Angie said...

What a nice man, I love random acts of kindness. It really does make this world a better place. It inspires me to do the same.

Rachel H. said...

So sweet...I love it when people do things like this for others! Makes your day so much better! :)

Sarah said...

I try to do that when I have time too. I agree with giving him a free pass for loud talking.

Jill said...

ha! I find that very endearing and sweet - toilet paper and all.

gv said...

Oh its the small things in life, right? Glad he got stocked up on TP! I gotta go grocery/TP shopping...SOON!

Casey said...

Good story... thanks for sharing ;) I bet a lot of people wouldn't have thought twice about accepting that offer, and they probably would have never thought about it again.

Kristen said...

How nice! I remember that rush feeling of lunch hour! I now appreciate it when people see that I have a fussy baby and let me go ahead! But whenever I'm out along (rarely!) I try to do the favor also. Small gestures like that can really make your day!

Anonymous said...

How sweet!

The Golden Years said...

Aww, how sweet :)

Princess Freckles said...

I sometimes think old men are just about the sweetest and cutest creatures on earth! I love that he had all the toilet paper he could handle! Ha!

Mrs. Fabulous said...

That is so sweet! You can imagine...he and his wife probably made that outing to "The Walgreens" the biggest, most important activity of the day. That's how my 94 yr. old Grandma is!

 
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