[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-04-at-10.02.40-AM.png” credit=”Neena Strichart/Signal Tribune ” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”A stranger at the Wendy’s drive-through on Bellflower Boulevard and Stearns Street left the above note for Signal Tribune Publisher Neena Strichart at the pick-up window after paying for her meal. ” captionposition=”right”]
While listening to my car radio Wednesday night, I heard one of the news reporters discussing the San Bernardino mass shootings that had occurred earlier in the day. During his broadcast he said that some are wondering about acts of terrorism in non-wartorn areas and asked, “Is it the new norm?” His words made me feel hopeless as I pondered the other recent acts of senseless bloodshed that took place in Paris.
The sandwiching of the Thanksgiving holiday between the two events downplayed the happy holiday in my mind and got me to thinking about the apparent downfall of human kindness that is so rampant in our world today.
While doing errands that evening I decided to make a drive-through food run at Wendy’s on the corner of Bellflower and Stearns in east Long Beach. I figured I would eat some chili in the parking lot while listening to the radio. I knew I had to eat fast because I had promised my mom that I would take her grocery shopping later that evening.
I made my order and drove up to pay my bill and grab my bagged food. Once reaching the pick-up window the clerk informed me, “Your bill was paid by the woman in front of you. She asked me to give you this note.” As I took the note I was perplexed as to who would do such an act of kindness. The note read, “What happened today in San Bernardino was awful. I just wanted to buy your dinner so that your day would end on a good note. Happy holidays.” Signed with just a smiley face, I quickly realized that the thoughtful person who paid my bill was in fact a stranger. This unexpected act of kindness immediately restored my faith in humankind, and I found myself smiling between my tears.
Let’s all remember that our friends and family, as well as colleagues and total strangers, are being affected emotionally by the violent acts we hear about on what seems to be a daily basis. Let’s all do our best to be kind to one another— and to understand the disturbing emotions felt by those around us.