Writer's Workshop: Thanks for the sandwiches man!

Head on over to MamaKats to check out writer's workshop and take part. It's something I enjoy doing every week, and I think you might like it too. This week you can also take part in Blog, Bid, Hope. Proceeds will be given to The Liz Logelin Foundation and Anissa Mayhew's Family. Now, Matt I saw on Oprah, and then MamaKat posted a link to his blog, and I've been reading it and catching up, and I have to say, I can't read a post without crying after hearing his story on Oprah. It breaks my heart. I've also just come across Anissa, and have been catching up on her, and been holding a good thought for her since reading her story. So, if you want to take part in the auction, please do. It's for something wonderful.

Now, onto my workshop. This week I chose the prompt 'Describe A Moment When A Stranger Helped You.'

I've really only had one such incident happen in my life. So let's begin.

On a bright and sunny day in Glendale, Arizona, David and I decided that we would have Quizno's for lunch. Actually, he wanted Panda Express, I wanted Quizno's, we rock, paper, scissored it, and I won. Important decisions in life can be decided with rock, paper, scissors. Who knew?

Anyways, I lost the game on who was actually going to go out into the blazing heat and get it. I grabbed what I needed and headed out the door. So, here I am at Quizno's. I'm really deadset on the Turkey Bacon Club. Yeah, lunch is going to be awesome. Mainly because I don't have to cook it, and Ethan isn't going to be picky and request a hot dog. I order my food and move on down the line. I hand the debit card over, and it's declined, 3 times. Now, I know there is money in the bank. I just got paid. I just checked my account not even 15 minutes before we decided on our meal. I was on the verge of tears and panicking because this was before we had gotten cell phones. So, I'm hyperventalating thinking, "Oh no. I'm going to have to leave. I'm going to have to go home. What do I do? How do I get ahold of David to have him bring me money? What do I do? Oh no..." All of a sudden, this voice from behind me says, "Hey, don't worry, I have this." And hands the cashier a $20. I can't believe it. I look up and this young guy says, "It's not a problem. Someone did it for me once. I'm just paying it forward." Then, I really did start crying. It was the nicest gesture a complete stranger had ever made to me. I said thank you maybe 50 times. When he left the store, I asked the cashier if she knew him. She said he worked in the financial office a few doors down. I went back a few days later and paid him back and gave him a thank you card. It's still something I remember to this day. And, I've paid it forward myself. On a cold morning in Arizona, there was a homeless man on the sidewalk outside of the building I worked in at the time. He had a sign asking for money to buy something warm to drink and some food. I went to the coffee shop across the street and bought him a large coffee and a few pastries. He was so thankful. I was just paying it forward.