At the drugstore on Friday, the pharmacy assistant wished me a happy birthday as I finished paying. I corrected her, explaining it wasn’t my birthday but Good Friday. “Still,” I told her, “Easter is just as good a reason to be happy.”
A man in line had overheard the “Happy birthday” but missed hearing my correction. He came to me and pressed two twenty‑dollar bills into my hand with his own quiet “Happy birthday.” I tried to refuse and explained that her comment was incorrect, but he insisted, and our friendly argument continued even after we left the counter.
I’m older than most and get around with a cane. He had overheard the impressive amount I had paid for my two packets of pills. Maybe it was enough to make him feel sorry for me. But I am not needy.
When I finally decided that he wouldn’t relent, I asked him to name his favorite charity. He named the Wounded Warriors Project. I am sending them a check for $40 on Saturday.
If you witnessed his kindness—or if you are only reading about it here—I hope you’ll follow his example and make giving a central part of your life. When I think about it, maybe it’s a key lesson of Easter.
South of Town: Notes and Scenes from Texas' Upper Gulf Coast 