Yesterday was a particularly hectic day. I am president of a local community organization and we had our noon meeting. When I was leaving, I ran into some great friends who live in the city and we talked about life, the schools, great things that are going on… it was a lot of fun.

Inadvertently, one of the folks from our group meeting thought I had left, so out of kindness he picked up my notebook and took it with him, giving me a call that he had it with him so I could swing by and get it later.

I needed coffee, obviously, so I ran over to the nearby Caribou Coffee to get a cup of good coffee. On the way in I ran into our worship pastor. We talked for quite awhile, then I went to get my coffee. As I was getting coffee, I purchased a bag of coffee for home. I chatted at the counter with the server who took care of me, then left. Coffee cup in hand, but bag of coffee still on the counter. It wasn’t until this morning that I realized what I had done.

On a whim, I returned to the scene of my Alzheimer episode and thought, “Well, if they buy my sad story I’m good. If they hesitate, I’m not going to give them any grief whatsoever.”

Two new people were at the counter, so I gave them my sad story and showed them the receipt. They promptly gave me the bag of coffee.

I love the kindness of strangers!