An unexpected kindness

I don’t go to Starbucks every morning.  However, after being woken up by a preschooler in pain at 2:00am I needed an extra boost this morning and found myself at the end of a very long drive thru line.  This drive thru has two routes to enter.  One side is a long line and the other entrance runs perpendicular to it, meaning that you are stuck there until some kind-hearted person lets you into the main line.

I learned the hard way to go in the main entrance and wait at the end of the line.  I once sat there for ten minutes while cars that got there way after I did refused to allow me in.  And based on the stellar design of the parking lot, it’s impossible to get out and leave without going through the drive thru, especially if you drive a large truck.

I watched as the black Honda unwittingly took the wrong route.  Poor fool.  She was stuck.  Thank goodness for the sweet woman in the large truck that may or may not have zombie response team stickers on it, who gestured her to pull in.  Me.

I had been waiting in that line for a while and I really needed some coffee.  (A tall toffee nut latte with whip and nutmeg–in case you ever want to be my hero and surprise me)

But I looked at that car and I remembered how much it sucked as I sat in that spot while other moms with their hair in ponytails or on their cellphones, studiously refused to make eye contact with me as they inched their cars up.  I get it, they had somewhere they had to go and couldn’t afford to be delayed a minute while I got the coffee.   Women whose greed  need for coffee made them forget that I was sitting in the same spot minutes ago when they first pulled into the line.  But that’s not me and that’s not who I want my daughter to be.  So I didn’t pull up and gave her an opening to get in.

I could see the hesitation.  I’ve been there too.  That suspicion that the driver is just looking at her cell phone and will see you start to pull in, then honk and gun it so you don’t “cut”…even though you were there first.  So I smiled and waved her in.

Yes, I had to get to the daycare to drop off my child.  Yes, I had to go to work.  But it was only a minute.  The lady ordered quickly and it was my turn in no time.

I got to the window to pay and retrieve my latte only to be greeted by a smiling barrista who informed me that the patron in front of me paid for my latte and my daughter’s muffin.

Ha! I wasn’t delayed at all.  I was handed my latte and muffin and on my way with a big cheesy grin of my own.

“Mommy, did you steal my muffin?” (pshaw…really?)

No, I was nice and let a lady in and she paid for our Starbucks.

“The lady you waved to? ”

Yep.

“I thought she was your friend.”

Well, she bought me a coffee so she is now.   I was nice to her so she was nice back to me.

Maybe the Starbucks pay it forward schtick is kind of a cliche.  I have read about it happening to other patrons.  But you what?  It was still nice.  It still made me smile.  It still made it a little easier to deal with some of the not so nice people I encountered later in the day.

It is a sad that kindness and consideration are not the norm.  I do my best to be kind every day.  It often gets mistaken for weakness.  I don’t get that though.  Why are bullying, selfishness, and rudeness considered “strong” personality characteristics?  Next time you encounter a rude, maybe power tripping, inconsiderate bully and respond to their fear intimidation tactics with a smile and a kind word, think carefully on who displayed more strength of character.  The one that showed their ass or the one that showed their class?

The holidays are coming up and while others are indulging in materialistic greed, I plan on harnessing the true meaning of Christmas spirit.

Have you ever been surprised by an unexpected kindness?