The girl across from me is frantically cramming for a Monday morning exam, lost in algebra or grammatical permutations or cognates or something... Suddenly, she spazzes as if Shaggy just mentioned a Scooby Snack. She smells the sweet release of a nice tobacco - Marlboro's, no doubt. She needs a fix, too. (And it's out on the patio - so why not? [carcinogens notwithstanding])
She pats herself down like she's being self-searched for contraband. No lighter. Damn.
I should mention here the possibility of a future post, Stuff Southern People Like.com #58: Smoking. Yes. EVERYONE here looooves the tobacco. But I digress.
Now I don't smoke. Never have. Well, I did take two puffs once last fall - but that was a very bad night. But for some reason, I have a lighter in my bag. She has a need. I have what she needs. Sure, I'm contributing to her early death, but you only live once, right? I didn't mean that to sound quite so trite.
In any event, I give her the lighter and her face lights up like the fourth of July. Or like the Robinson's house from the day-after-Thanksgiving until January 2. Either metaphor works; she's happy. She thanks me from the bottom of her heart and starts to toss me back my lighter. "Nah - keep it. Looks like you'll be here a while. :)"
More brightness.
I take this moment to write down five things that I'm going to dry to do on a consistent basis in order to "make someone's day" each and every day. I figure since being kind to people gives me such a great feeling (usually), a single act of kindness can't help but benefit two people, right?
1. Go through a door, stay there a little longer than is necessary or normal, and hold it open for the next person. I'm a door holder usually, but sometimes I debate (quickly) in my head, after that all-too-familiar glance backward, if the person is close enough to the entrance to warrant my door holding or if I should let it swing shut. Usually, my own 2 seconds of freedom trumps theirs. The door swings. No more. I'm holding it open with a smile from now on.
2. (Since we're here...) Buying someone's Starbucks in the drive-up window. I've done this once, and I don't know why I don't do it more often. Probably because I rarely drive anymore, but in any event, it usually goes something like this: "Grande skinny cinnamon dolce latte, extra hot? that'll be $4.67" "What did the lady behind me order?" "Um... a tall caramel macchiato." "Great. Can you put that on my tab?" Now if the barista answers your inquiry with "25 venti white chocolate mochas for the whole office"... keep on drivin'.
3. Bring chewing gum for everyone during a very long lecture class and have it passed around the room. There are like 5-10 people in my classes, so this works well... but if you have one of those 500-person lectures... save your wallet and your reputation. "Who the heck brings a garbage bag full of bubble gum to class?!" Nobody wants to be that guy.
4. Smile and say "Hi. How are you doing today?" or "Pretty weather, today!" to a random person. Patch Adams inspired this part of me. You think you're going out on a limb. Until you see their reaction. It's... uplifting.
5. Always carry a lighter, Tylenol, an extra pen, and a Scantron sheet (if you attend UT). These are four of the top five most requested items filled in the blank for: "Excuse me, do you have ________?" Fifth was 'a problem.' Lord knows we've all got those. In that instance, keep yours to yourself, please.
That's it. Hold a door, buy someone coffee, pass out gum, greet a stranger, and carry an extra lighter.
I take this moment to write down five things that I'm going to dry to do on a consistent basis in order to "make someone's day" each and every day. I figure since being kind to people gives me such a great feeling (usually), a single act of kindness can't help but benefit two people, right?
1. Go through a door, stay there a little longer than is necessary or normal, and hold it open for the next person. I'm a door holder usually, but sometimes I debate (quickly) in my head, after that all-too-familiar glance backward, if the person is close enough to the entrance to warrant my door holding or if I should let it swing shut. Usually, my own 2 seconds of freedom trumps theirs. The door swings. No more. I'm holding it open with a smile from now on.
2. (Since we're here...) Buying someone's Starbucks in the drive-up window. I've done this once, and I don't know why I don't do it more often. Probably because I rarely drive anymore, but in any event, it usually goes something like this: "Grande skinny cinnamon dolce latte, extra hot? that'll be $4.67" "What did the lady behind me order?" "Um... a tall caramel macchiato." "Great. Can you put that on my tab?" Now if the barista answers your inquiry with "25 venti white chocolate mochas for the whole office"... keep on drivin'.
3. Bring chewing gum for everyone during a very long lecture class and have it passed around the room. There are like 5-10 people in my classes, so this works well... but if you have one of those 500-person lectures... save your wallet and your reputation. "Who the heck brings a garbage bag full of bubble gum to class?!" Nobody wants to be that guy.
4. Smile and say "Hi. How are you doing today?" or "Pretty weather, today!" to a random person. Patch Adams inspired this part of me. You think you're going out on a limb. Until you see their reaction. It's... uplifting.
5. Always carry a lighter, Tylenol, an extra pen, and a Scantron sheet (if you attend UT). These are four of the top five most requested items filled in the blank for: "Excuse me, do you have ________?" Fifth was 'a problem.' Lord knows we've all got those. In that instance, keep yours to yourself, please.
That's it. Hold a door, buy someone coffee, pass out gum, greet a stranger, and carry an extra lighter.
So I continue to sit here, proud of myself for my list I've compiled - my resolve to try to make someone's day each and every day - and then, lo and behold...
Here's my chance. The guy beside me pats himself down, frantic for a light-up. Lucky him! I just happen to be a compassionate human being, just waiting to make TWO people's day in one hour! How lucky am I? It's my cue... I reach in my bag...
Absolutely nothing.
Dangit.
I glance up at the table where chain-smoking girly number one formerly sat. Empty.
Dangit again.
Edit: Keep two lighters on you at all times...
1 comment:
Absolutely loved this post. You're such a fantastic writer.
I miss you!
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