Last week, I visited the commissary in Wiesbaden to do some shopping. That day, I wore my Disabled Veteran cap with pride. I also had my walking cane with me. I still have a bit of difficulty walking because of the two TKA operations on my right knee. But something happened to me that day that warmed my heart. A stranger’s generous gesture belied the craziness and the disgusting, shameful racist incidents currently in the news. This random act of kindness strengthened my belief that there are still some wonderful people in this world.
After I finished shopping, two young male commissary baggers escorted me to my car. One of the young men rolled my shopping cart to my car. The other young man walked beside me and engaged me in some small chit-chat.
I told the one with my cart that I had parked my car near the curb. Before we got to my car, I used my key to unlock it. So he rolled the cart right up to my trunk and opened it. When he started loading my bags into the trunk, the other one immediately ran over to help him. I stood by as they worked to get all my bags out of the cart and into my car.
As I watched them, I detected something out of the corner of my right eye. A car was backing out of the parking spot behind my vehicle. I turned around and saw that the car was a beautiful sporty convertible with the top down. I didn’t see the make or model of his car. But as the driver backed out, he stopped his vehicle and reached over with something in his hand to give to one of the commissary baggers. I looked closer at what was in his hand and realized that it was money. The baggers stopped what they were doing as if they were frozen in place. They looked as stunned as I was.
Then the man politely said to them, “Here, this is for helping her.”
One of the young men went over to the man to get the money from the stranger’s hand. From the color of the money, I knew that it was 10 Euros, about $11.00. The bagger smiled and expressed his appreciation to the gentleman with a grateful, “Thank you!” In fact, we all thanked the stranger again before he drove away.
Ordinarily I wouldn’t mention this, but with the constant current wave of racial incidents, I have to. My two commissary baggers were young Black males. The driver of the convertible car was a White man who appeared to be in his late 60s.
I do not know what made this stranger stop his car and what motivated him to tip these two young Black men. Maybe it was because I was wearing my Disabled Veteran cap. But I already had money in my hand to give to these two guys. Yet this White stranger’s random act of kindness made my day and inspired the two young men.
I don’t know if I will ever see that stranger again. But I believe that in this life, we should do what we can to help each other in any way that we can.
To that stranger, whoever and where ever you are, the two young baggers and I appreciated your generosity to us that day. I pray that God will continue to bless you for your selfless act. I will definitely pass it on.