Do you believe in coincidence? I did until recently, but more and more things are happening to make me reconsider. Let me tell you about one such thing.

Here at Brookdale Littleton, we have this bus and when we take rides in it, we refer to it as Joy Rides. Well, last week we took a Joy Ride to Trader Joes. I went but to tell you the truth, I didn’t need to buy one thing but was dying to just get out for a while. The day was warm and sunny even though it was mid-February and frankly, I would’ve Joy Rode to most anywhere.

Apparently, most of the 10 residents felt the same way and just piled in line to board our bus without even checking to see if we had some cash to spend.

Who cares? It was a perfect February day to get out and about.

Well, there was one man who should have cared!

When it was time to get in line to pay for our purchases, he figured out he’d spent $30 on junk food. What he didn’t figure out was he did not have one dime in cash.

I watched as he pulled out his wallet about five credit cards, by one by one, the cashier slid them into the credit card machine only to have each one spit back out “No longer good.”

“Oh boy!”, I thought, “what will he do?”

But there was an elderly lady in line behind him. She, too, watched the problem. Quietly, with not a word, she gently slipped her credit card into the credit card machine and it apparently took it. She quickly paid for the groceries and before I could say anything, she had taken her bags and left the store.

When I got my wits about me, I said to the cashier, “Pardon me, but did that lady just pay for this mans’ bill?”

With the sweetest smile I’ve seen in a long time, she answered, “Yes ma’am, that lady paid for the man’s bill. You know, I don’t see such kindness very often! Have a beautiful day.”

I took off running. I know the man couldn’t run, so I wanted to thank that beautiful lady for what she did without even wanting a thank you. But she was nowhere. Going back into the store, I asked the cashier to thank the elderly lady if she ever comes back in the store.

Witnessing such an act of kindness brought joy and warmth to my heart. Was it a coincidence that such a giving and loving person was right in line behind the man with us? I don’t think so.

So, in spite of all the meanness going on right now, let us remember there are such people among us who believe in helping one another. I’m thankful for that.

The view from the mountains is wondrous.