When I pulled up to the stoplight at the intersection of Greenville and Mockingbird, he was there on the traffic island, an old black man in a wheelchair, looking for a hand-out. But it wasn’t my spare change he was after.
“Ma’am?You got any lunch left over?”
“No, I’m sorry,” I hollered back through my sunroof. “I don’t.”
I haven’t even had lunch myself, I thought, realizing that I was experiencing a growing tummy grumble.
If you know me at all, you know I can’t be hungry. I just can’t. I go from content to starving in a blinding flash and then everything goes completely to hell. I have a total emotional meltdown. I was thinking about this when I pulled into the parking lot at Walgreen’s – about how desperately hungry I suddenly felt. Instead of grabbing the to-do list from my purse, I quickly counted the crumpled bills in my wallet and threw the car into reverse.
Burger Heaven. That sounded good. At the window, I ordered a Number Two – plenty of ketchup – and a Coke.
“No, wait,” I said, carefully weighing the options. “Make that a Diet Coke.”
When the light changed to green, I inched forward, braked, and turned on my flashers. The van behind me honked, and my heart raced. I’m sorry. I cringed, but slid the car out of gear and pulled up the parking brake. I opened my door; he honked again.
“God bless you.” The old man wheeled forward to take the fast food bag, and my right hand. “God bless your heart.”
“Thank you. Have a good lunch.”
He held my hand for another second or two, and then I walked back to my car. The light turned red again, but the honking had stopped. The man in the wheelchair pushed a straw into his soda, and I watched from my heated seat, wondering for the second time if maybe he’d lost his legs to Diabetes. Coke, Diet Coke. It seemed like such an important decision.
Until he took a drink. And my world crumbled.
No one should ever have to look that grateful for a stinking Diet Coke. He never once opened his eyes, just sucked away at the straw, smiling between sips.
When the light changed, I drove back to Walgreen’s, sat in the parking lot and cried.
today, you are my hero
you’re a good person. know that.
Heather, that was absolutely beautiful. I’d like to think I would have done the same thing (I definitely would have been crying). Thanks for spreading the holiday cheer and bringing a tear to my eye.
Wow…
awww i just starting cryinggggg
This story was beautiful.
I keep a box of Nutrigrain bars in my car solely to give to people at intersections like that. Tryin’ to do my part…
I usually come here to read your sassy stories, enjoy your quick wit and sometimes irreverent humor. I also loved hearing about your travels abroad. Today, though, I was moved to tears myself. Simple, but a well-told story. Thanks for sharing.
What goes around comes around, that’s all I can say. In this season of giving, sometimes the small things in life mean the most. Offer to help someone get their car out of the snow, carry a stroller into the bus – you name it, you’re making someone’s day.
you are amazing. it’s so good to know that there are still good people out there. recently i’ve been thinking that there aren’t. that a bad day can make you feel like a bad person. but after reading this…i realized that even if someone else is mean to me i don’t have to be mean to them. i would so do what you did. and then i too would cry.
so so nice of you.
Twice this holiday season I have been approached for spare change and both times I declined. I rarely keep cash on me and both times as I drove away I felt terrible. I wish I had done what you did. It breaks my heart. I hope next time I do.
You seriously have some good karma coming your way. That was amazingly selfless. The world would be a better place if we all did our own random acts of kindness. You have restored my faith in humanity!
Now I’m crying. You’re awesome!
That was beautiful. Thank you.
You left me sobbing from this entry. Suddenly, all of my petty worries seem so unbelievably trivial. My heart just broke. You’ve inspired me, Heather. Thank you and God bless you.
your a sweet girl heather…love your writing, I’m completely hooked
You are an angel. The shining, sparkly, spiritual, every-day-is-a-holiday kind.
OK, it was a lil cheesy how you wrote it (gotcha- it was for him, not for yourself), but good on you for doing a good thing.
awww. what a good girl! you touched my heart today!
What I love most about this post is your involvement in the decision. You didn’t just toss off some food to subdue your guilt, you were thoughtful enough to consider the cause of this man’s plight and he’s not only happier, but possibly healthier because of you.
Crying in work over someones blog is sooo not a good look. You did a good thing today – I hope all who read here will be inspired to do a random act of kindness
Heather you’re a sweetheart
it is 6:28am and my day is made … thank you for being you.
You.Are.Amazing.Simply!
There should be more people like you – who not just think & preach about doing good, but actually go & do it, preachin be damned!!
Cheers!
That really made my day
We should all follow your example. Have a wonderful holiday season.
There was a time I gave all the coin I had in my purse to a man who asked for spare change. I watched him walk across the street to KFC and walk out with a bag of food, the most euphoric grin on his face. Sometimes it works. And that’s why when I don’t know where to look when stopped at a stoplight with someone standing there, I reach in my purse and pull out any and all the spare change I have.
don’t worry! there’s always more diet coke!
That made me cry – good for you, Fish. Not many people would have done that!!
My worries and concerns are meaningless compared to the guy you helped!!
Thanks for pointing that out to me.
That was beautiful!
What an awesome way to get into the spirit of the season. I love that you were so kind to someone who needed you.
I going to share this story with my friends today! Thank god for the Heathers of this world. Now, he will never forget you! That was extremely nice & generous of you.
This is why you are my friend.
Goddammit. Now I’m crying.
You rule.
Thank you for this story, and for thinking to do that and actually carrying it out. What a wonderful thing.
Beautiful…
Oh Heather, how wonderful.
You brought tears to my eyes, Fish.
What a wonderful reminder….especially at this time of year.
It seems a hollow thing to say to your kind and giving spirit, but for lack of a better way to put it~ Thank you.
Be Blessed.
Having tried to do that myself (and gotten yelled at for being ‘inconsiderate’ because said person was apparently a vegetarian)I am completely touched by how beautiful this story is and the emotion you can portray in it. And it’s a good reminder not to give up because I failed once. Thanks, Fish.
One cold new england novemer day we were out shopping. my boyfriend’s son(age 10) saw a homeless guy with no shoes. He insisted that we shop first at the shoe store and out of his own money bought a pair of socks and sneakers. That made me cry. You did too.
Thank you for writing that.
Very humbling for me. What a gracious act of kindness on your part. It does my heart good not only to read your story, but to read everyone else’s comments. Case in point of how something good can be contagious. Thank you.
Peace, health & happiness to you & your family this holiday season.
This comment brought tears to my eyes. You have a beautiful heart.
i should’ve worn waterproof mascara this morning…
Fish-
I often wish for stories that define the holiday spirit of giving to pass on. Usually they are stories heard year after year, good stories, but repeats all the same. I hope you don’t mind that I passed this one as a perfect example of what the holiday is all about, regardless of your religion or what the holiday is for you.
Thank you.
And now, so am I. Bless you, Heather.
Thank God that a blog that so many people read, will share one of those stories. Because you had the courage to do all that you shared, perhaps someone else will get the courage now to go and do it too.
and for everyone reading, yes heather has a good heart, but the important part is that this man was touched by getting something essential. may we each remember to slow down, face the stares and honks, and reach out to someone else; whether they had the courage to ask or not.
You have a lovely spirit! Thank you for posting your story. Reading this and other’s comments is a wonderful way to start the day!~ Love is contagious!
I’ve heard that angels exist; now I know it.
Thank you.
That is a great story. I know you don’t need a stranger to tell you this, but you are a thoughtful person.
I have had that moment with the same man at the same intersection. And he was so very grateful. I’m glad you got to have your moment.
Wow. You make me still believe there are good people in this world. That made me tear up.
Heather, the same thing happened to me last week. I brought a homeless man some food and hand warmers — it was snowing outside — and it was absolutely heartbreaking how grateful he was for such a small gesture. I still cry when I think about it.
This made ME cry!
In the city where I live, people ask for change all the time. I never have any, and always find myself saying no with a large dose of guilt.
But this man? Asking for lunch, not just money? It’s people like that who I feel quite heart-broken about not helping. Good for you, taking the time to do more than just feel a little bit bad about it. The world is a better place with people like you.
You’ve inspired me to donate to my local food bank online right now!
No more putting it off!
Merry Christmas Heather!
I never comment on your blog…and I read it religiously, but this one is truly outstanding and made me tear up right here at my desk. Great job…I wish I could be half the writer you are.
gratitude is one of the most humbling expressions. whenever i’ve given to those less fortunate in situations like this, it wasn’t their initial plight that made me cry, but always the humility in their eyes to receive. some people may judge and condemn the homeless as a general population of waste. but on a human level, it is compassion that raises the human spirit – not spare change. i am glad you gave to that man. i hope when you are in need of help that someone shares their fortune with you. you truly deserve it.
you’re incredible. thank you for being such a kind and generous person. and now i’m crying, too.
thanks for jabbing at my tearducts! ugh that was heartwarming..God bless you. This is the season to give more than receive and I hope many people realize that’s the TRUE meaning of christmas.
You have a kind soul. I once saw a young girl standing on the side of the road with a cardboard sign that said “we all need a little help once in a while”. It is so true. I’ve been on both ends…needing help myself or having enough and helping others. We all need to help each other more. You are awesome!
Wow I am tearing up,
I had a moment like that once, It was when I was really young.
I was in the 3rd grade I went to a private school. and I got to school early one day and saw 2 girls playing on the playground I went to talk to them and I dont really remember much but they said their mother was the cleaning lady and they get here at 4am w/ their mom to clean, they mentioned they don’t eat breakfast b/c they can only afford to eat 2 times a day lunch and dinner so I ran to my classroom pulled out my lunch and gave it to them, I would do that everymorning, I asked my mom to pack me extra and I would arrive early and give my lunch to the girls. I never understood people don’t have everything until then
oh that just made me tear up. I probably would have cried too…thanks, Fish, for doing that.
I found your blog through a series of “click this blog link and see where I end up” clicks a few weeks back (while you were still away, iirc) and I just wanted to say what a pleasure it is to read, especially because of posts like this one. The world needs more people like you.
(*Blowing nose into tissue..) Oh Fish.. so beautiful, so selfless, so inspiring.
I feel Blessed simply knowing “of you”.
God’s Peace to you and your family this Holiday Season and a very happy and health New Year!!
I am sitting at work, at the end of a ****ty day, feeling sorry for myself that I’m ridiculously hungry and I have a meeting in 2 hours and can’t go home to eat for another 3 or 4. And then I read your post. And I started crying.
You have a divine soul.
Heather, I anticipated that I’d be angered by your post when I saw the reference to his color, but then I had to blink about 5 times before I could see the link for comments because I was so moved. You are the best and I am inspired to help others even more after reading this. Happy Holiday Season.
What an inspiration to us all! We take for granted what we have always had!
yup- you got me. tears.
Seriously, God bless your heart.
Thank you.
Once we were at a Taco Bell as a family, years ago, and watched a man eating sauce packets. My father quietly got up and purchased some tacos for him.
Heather – you are a gracious soul, thank you for sharing some humanity.
Your story made me cry too. That’s so great that you did that.
I always get approached in the grocery store parking lot. In the summer I would buy extra bottles of water just in case and would give them away if I got asked for change or something (I hardly ever carry cash). The other day I was approached and I mostly had frozen food, but I had also just poured part of a chocolate milk into my baby’s bottle (mixed with the milk already in there so it wasn’t TOO chocolatey.) When he asked for something I thought about everything I bought and then offered the left over chocolate milk. He said “yes” much quicker than I would have thought and nearly grabbed it out of my hands. I felt pretty good the rest of the night, even though to me it was only chocolate milk.
You are amazing.
thanks. You are amazing.
You are awesome for doing that. I once bought a homeless man lunch at Burger King–turned out he was from my hometown (on the opposite side of the country) so we spent an hour chatting about life back there. It was perfect for me because I was homesick and at the end he thanked me for the best lunch he had a in long time. I cried too.
I never give spare change either. But when he said food, I was scared the story wasn’t going to end up the way it did. Good for you.
Because I hope that I would never NOT do what you did. Money, no; food, always.
Bless you.
Good for you….we should all do something like that everyday.
My boyfriend, who lives near there is going to take him food Wednesday night. I asked him to. I was very touched by what you had done. I have done it myself on numerous occasions, but this just seems different.
I think what you did was wonderful. Perhaps if you see that same man again, you can get to know him and find out why he is in the wheelchair in the first place. And maybe you can help him get back on his feet again, figuratively speaking.
Thank you for reminding everyone what the Christmas season is truly about. Merry Christmas!
God bless you. May your sharing of this experience inspire others to acts of kindness too.
may every single one of your readers resolve to one random act of kindness every day of the new year.
you’re beautiful, inside and out.
Wow, that’s powerful!
I love you.
M
I stumbled upon your blog while wasting away the workday in Denton. Very funny, very fresh. Awesome that it’s Dallas too… And so postfeminist. Love it!
MV
You are awesome. Not many people would do what you did. Not because they aren’t good people, but because so few take the time. Hopefully your kind of generosity spreads. Happy Holidays!
Thanks for reminding us what the festive season is really about.
I received this email from a black Zimbabwean friend today, it struck the same cord “Situation at home has changed for the worst. No meat,Zesa [electricity],fuel,beer. Shops are empty, surely you won’t believe it.”
I miss my friends and wish I could go back and help them.
I haven’t posted in a while. I’m so proud of you.
In NY whenever i used to go out to eat, I would take the leftovers with me, not b/c I would eat it later, but to give anyone on the train that would ask me for spare change or food. Better to give it to them than to have it thrown out.
Just like the others, I am totally tearing up at this post. I love it that you bought him lunch. Very sweet.
This story was such a surprise to me. Yesterday I saw a homeless man sitting outside of a QuikTrip looking quite well, hungry, homeless, cold, weary, depressed, etc. I went inside and got my daily Diet Dr.Pepper and in addition, an QT Cheeseburger. He was so thankful.
Tis the season,
Laura
Wichita, Kansas
I used to work downtown on Hudson and Houston and passed a man on the street every day as I walked to my building from the 1 train. He always just sat on the sidewalk holding a sign saying something about being a down-on-luck veteran. Maybe I should have done it more often but I always bought him lunch on veterans day instead of dropping money in the cup. He was always most appreciative. I know where you’re coming from, Fish. It breaks my heart.
Just goes to show that a Supergirl doesn’t always need a cape to save the day.
That reminds of time me and my best friend went out for Giordianos Pizza in Downtown Chicago. We both knew we weren’t going to get the whole thing and before we started we asked for the half of the pizza be but in individual to go boxes. We knew there were several homeless people out on the Avenue and we had plan to give it to them. And the pizza was still hot for them.
It always give me a good feeling when you can help someone else in need.
It never about what you would receive but what can you give of yourself to help another.
Stay bless.
OMG, that is such a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.
One love, Fish, one love.
Merry Christmas.
Long time reader, first time post. I cried like a baby. I’m in the “human services” line of work and giving is sometimes just a job, today I wanted to help someone else and when i gave her enough food for a Christmas meal and told her i would have toys delivered to her children, she asked if she could hug me. She too brought me to tears when she called me her angel. It’s a good feeling. God Bless you Heather!
Just when I was thinking I had problems, I received this friendly reminder that things aren’t so bad.
Thank you for caring for that man today.
It’s odd how oblivious we can be…. I grew up in a third world country and going through dumps for food was not unusual…
It’s only been 10 years but already I’m becoming the person who would honk the horn because I wasn’t looking beyond my windshield.
We need these reminders.
That was really sweet of you. You can do good only if you feel from your heart and not think from your brain… That’s probably what you did!
Beautiful story and a great reminder that small gestures of kindness can go a long way towards making someoneâs day.
Fish, you just inspired my New Year’s resolution – to give a meal to someone who needs it every week. Thank you.
I love your blog and I thoroughly enjoy reading about your dating ups and downs but I must say that this has been my favorite post of yours ever. I, like everyone else, now have tears in my eyes as well. Thank you for sharing!
What a kind gesture. Brought a tear to my eye.
That was beautiful.
Would it creep you out if I said I wanted to hug you?
That brought tears to my eyes too. How very sweet
Wow, I got tears in my eyes reading that. You did good
Oh, wow. That reminds me of the sort of thing I’d do – but only if I had any food with me. Actually buying it’s such a charming act. Bless you.
THAT, my friend, is true love. beautiful!