The last item was scanned and the clerk turned to me and asked, “All ready for Thanksgiving now?” I looked over the bounty packed in bags; turnips, carrots, potatoes, acorn squash, the Tofurkey roasts, and was about to say that we needed not a thing more, we were ready, when I noticed the store had created some prepackaged bags that could be donated to the food bank.
I grabbed one and passed it to her and when she scanned it, I said, “Now I am.”
Joe took the bag to run it up to the drop off while the last small items were packed.
Behind us was a couple, probably in their late 20’s. He wore those kind of glasses that made his eyes look a little bit bigger than they were. He and those eyes were staring at me. And he was crying.
He turned to the woman he was with and said, “To see such generosity from someone given so little.”
The obvious inappropriateness of his remark was such that even the cashier blushed. Joe arrived back from dropping the food off and we were ready to go.
I didn’t say anything.
Because I’ve been given much, and much beyond a life lived with purpose, a life lived with love, and a life lived with adventure, I’ve also been given an extra dollop of restraint to use, at will, when I needed it.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate the occasion.
