October 4, 2001

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Yesterday morning, I went to the Student Union for breakfast. I realized I had forgotten my meal card when I went to pay for my meal. I cashier said that she would have to go get the manager to authorize a Student ID number entry. Unfortunately, he wasn't in the building. In the past, they had just asked me what my ID number was, but she didn't. (BTW, these ladies are like the lunch ladies from hell that we all envision in grade school and high school, real decrepid and senile.)

Then from out of the blue, with lots of people behind me waiting to go through, a girl says that she is offering to pay for my meal. Needless to say, I'm actually shocked. I knew that if we had switched places I would do the same thing. The problem was that I was always doing these good deeds for others, but never had it done to me. All I could think to say was, "Bless your heart, thank you!" with a big grin on my face.

When I found a table, I quickly took out a pen and wrote my name and phone number on a napkin. I hoped I would find her again as I turned around. She wasn't there. I haven't found her yet, but I thought if I left my name and number, I could someday return the favor as payment for her kindness.

It may seem like a trivial thing, but that act of selflessness made me realize that there ARE good and descent people out there, including me. It's been a long time since a complete stranger had been that nice and generous to me that, I admit, it took me back a bit. But look at how good it made me feel! I'll still keep looking for her, and maybe I can catch up with her again.

Moral of the story. . . Acts of kindness and generosity have not gone out of style. Practice them often, and the world will be a bit kinder to all of us.

-Kimmy