My year of being selfish continues. I picked up Danny and Maddie (my son and his girlfriend, respectively) at the airport the other night. They flew back from Japan, after being gone for ten days. Arlene (my ex-wife) and I drove to the airport and parked in front of the arrival doors, where the police usually shoo you along. I offered to pay for parking, but she refused. Her wearing fuzzy slippers and pajama bottoms with a t-shirt and hoodie might have had something to do with it. Just speculation, though.
I went inside because I needed to know when the flight would arrive in case there was a delay (which there was). Then, I called Arlene to see if she wanted anything. She asked for a small cup of coffee. Since I was right by the Dunkin’ Donuts kiosk, I moved over to order. I stood behind a couple, the woman telling her companion to order whatever he wanted. After ordering, she looked through her pocketbook but was going to be a few dollars short. Here was my chance!
I stepped up and said I would be happy to pay the difference. She thanked me then moved to the other end of the counter to pick up her order. “Funny,” I thought, as the guy didn’t go with her. Just then, the man turned to me and said, “Can you buy me a bagel? I’m trying to turn my life around.”
I believe all great redemption stories begin with carbs.
Turns out that he was not with her, after all; he had asked her for food. That’s why she told him, ‘Get anything you want.’ She wanted to get away from him. Now, he was mine.
“Sure,” I answered. “Get yourself a bagel!” Instantly, he turned back to the cashier and said, “Give me a blueberry muffin and a French cruller!” I ordered Arlene’s small coffee and waited. He, then, turned to me and said, “Order anything you want! Price is no object.”
No, he didn’t just say that! So, we just stood there in awkward silence. The cashier gave me my total and took my money. The man took my change.
I got my coffee, turned to him, and said, “Good luck with your life.” He just stood there, eating his cruller. I guess he will wait for the next “life-coach” to step-up and help him turn his life around (maybe protein next order).
I went outside, gave Arlene her coffee, and went back inside to wait by myself at the gate for Danny and Maddie’s plane to land. I wasn’t alone for long.
After standing there for a minute or two, I felt someone to my right. I turned and saw another man. His left hand gripped the handle of a battered, rolling carry-on that had seen better days. His right clutched a mass of coins that kept dropping to the floor through his fingers.
He mumbled something that sounded like, “I know I don’t look good.” He tilted his head down, so I’d see the suitcase in his hand. “I’m going somewhere.” I turned, took some money out of my pocket, and handed him a couple of bucks.
After Danny and Maddie landed, we exchanged niceties–“Hello,” “How are you,” etc. I told them about my plan to be selfish this year and help other people, so I felt good. I told them about buying the woman breakfast New Year’s Eve morning; crawling under a car to rip out a damaged muffler, so a woman could get home; and the two men at the airport, just now.
“You put it out there in the universe,” Maddie said. “You opened the door.”
I know I did. I know I opened the door, but we were just, barely, a week into the New Year! The universe needs to slow down a bit; it’s going to pull a muscle.
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