Reinforcing moment in the checkout line

[central scrutinizer]

I was third in line. First in line was a young woman with a small child, maybe 18 months old. When everything in the cart had been scanned, the total clearly upset her. It was the end of the month and her EBT card was about empty. She apologized to those of us in line behind as she decided which items she was going to abandon. I reached for my debit card to cover any shortfall but the woman in front of me beat me to the punch and put it on her card. So I gave the woman in front some cash from my wallet to cover half. There are some good people out there who believe in paying it forward and helping our neighbors even if they are strangers.

[PowerToThePeople]

1. Great story

But not one that should need to be told in a decent society.

[erronis]

31. Society can be decent but there are obnoxious individuals who poison everything around them.

This is a nice tale and one that I try to practice as much as possible. I don't always think ahead and sometimes find myself getting a bit irritated by "disturbances" to my normal routine. Once I get over myself and do the decent thing, my whole day has gotten a much more pleasant, warmer glow.

[PowerToThePeople]

33. Not sure I understand your point

Last edited Sat May 23, 2015, 01:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Or maybe I do.

Republicans believe they have the right to impoverish a vast swath of the population for their own lust for power and wealth. That population can then rely on charity, hopefully from their church in order to get basic needs covered.

This should not need to happen in a just society.

Who is the poison? Imo, people who buy into this philosophy are the poison.

edit - and, if you are insinuating that I am poisoning everything around me, you are wrong. The poison is already there, don't get upset because I tell you it is there. The problem, imo, is those who wish to ignore it.

[erronis]

36. Oh, sorry. I definitely wasn't criticizing you! Anything but.

I didn't even want to make this a political (republican vs. us) type of comment.

In my stumbling way I just wanted to say that there are some people that can make life unpleasant for everyone around them.

Peace!

[daredtowork]

47. It is so embarrassing when

you have lost track of your last trip to the grocery store or lost your last receipt and thus over-spend on your ebt card at the end of the month! It alerts everyone in line that you were using an ebt card, when you might have been trying to keep that private. I often go to a grocery store further away to preserve that privacy, but then that costs bus money.

Aneyway it's horrible to hold up the whole line. Even if someone volunteers to pay for the overflow, there is some acrobatics involved in figuring out how much is left on the card.

Occassionslly there is some Social Services error and you get surprised because there is suddenly ZERO on the card. Many annoyingglitches can cause this, but the burden and time of getting it resolved falls on the poor person. The joke among nonprofit advocates is that the government sets short deadlines and grabs back money like lightning: but it moves like molasses to correct a mistake even if the recipient could starve or become homeless without the money.

Click my sig for an example of food stamps being automatically stopped because I reported doing a small amount of work to purchase basic necessities (I was getting no direct cash aid).

[Joe Chi Minh]

34. Even so, it's very American. Maybe a dog-eat-dog society (thanks to its government)

down the years, brings out the best in the good people.

[Thinkingabout]

2. I am not sure lots knows what it means to play it forward and normally it happens to the one behind

You but what a nice gesture.

[freshwest]

44. I think the expression is 'pay it forward' and it's from a movie where someone does something for

another person. Rather than take their thank you, the person asked them to 'pay it forward,' that is, to do good for the next person in need.

I was told this one time by someone who had done things that were an invaluable help to me at the time, truly a lifesaver.

He used the phrase and asked me to help others caught in the same situation we had been in, using knowledge and time to help them. When they called to thank me, I said to simply tell others what I taught them, to defend those who needed it.

So it then multiplied, which I think is the point of the story. The embarrassing thing is when the people you have helped find you at an event and crowd and make a fuss congratulating one. People who I have never met.

I consider doing the right thing the natural thing, not a gift. It's why I avoid large meetings. No telling who may run up to me that I don't know. That's just me.

I agree with PTTP that our society whousl not depend on charity as it's too random. So we must keep politically active to work for a just society in these days when so few know that.

[catrose]

3. I've tried to do so

and had people refuse--not meanly, they just pull a few items out. (Despite the GOP propaganda, I find that most people would rather not receive "charity.&quot But the offer seems to make them feel just as good as if I'd done it.

[No Vested Interest]

40. You're correct that some would refuse, but a mother would not be so quick

to do so, as her love and care for her children's needs would overcome her pride most times.

[SoapBox]

4. Good post.

[NJCher]

5. Hugs to you

central scrutinizer.


Cher

[jwirr]

6. I actually think there are a lot of good people out there. The problem comes in recognizing need

when we see it. With that young lady it was obvious. Thank you for helping her.

[central scrutinizer]

8. I didn't help her

Directly, that is - the woman in front of me was quicker.

[jwirr]

11. You would have.

[gratuitous]

7. Dammit!

And in spite of the dedicated efforts of Republicans for the last 35 years, you bleeding hearts just can't quite get it through your thick skulls that it's everyone against everyone, and the bestest win (even if they might have had a teeny, tiny financial head start).

Good for both of you.

[central scrutinizer]

9. I live in Oregon

Not Wisconsin. Scott Walker would have wanted me to go through her cart looking for frivolous items. After spitting on her, of course.

[SusanCalvin]

12. Sad but

Hilarious and sadly true.

[tosh]

17. Indeed...

this one makes me @ Scott Walker.

And pRick Scott. And pRick Perry. And Robby Jindal.

And all the other hateful arses out there are making these evil policies.

Exposing themselves. Pathetic fools!

[classof56]

25. Kudos from a fellow Oregonian.

You do us proud!

Cheers and Blessings.

[kairos12]

20. Reich Wing says only boot straps in the cart.

[lpbk2713]

10. It must have been horrible for that young mother.

She was put in that situation by forces beyond her control but still had to deal with it.
I'm glad you and the lady behind her were there when she needed you.

[Scarsdale]

46. Thank you.

So glad that two caring ladies were right there to help. THANK YOU. Karma will be good to you, believe that one.

[MissDeeds]

13. Beautiful story

Thanks for reminding us there are some wonderful, caring people out there, and you're one of them cs.

[Whiskeytide]

14. And you didn't shame her...

... for the items in her cart??? What!? Please tell me you at least made her pee in a cup first!!!

Great story. Good on you and the lady in front of you.

[Dont call me Shirley]

15. Thank you, central scrutinizer...

[LibDemAlways]

16. Your story reminds me of the time I was

just about finished pumping gas when an elderly man pulled up at the opposite pump driving what can generously be called a beater. He handed the cashier $2.00, telling her it was all he had. The man behind him in line immediately pulled out his credit card and told the cashier he was paying for a tankful for the elderly man -- who immediately broke down in tears and must have said, "Thank you. Bless you" about 10 times. The generous stranger just smiled, said it was his pleasure, and drove off.

So glad that young woman got some help. Thanks for sharing your story. Made my day.

[erronis]

32. Wonderful!

And, if you believe the studies, the people that don't have a lot of extra change (the 99.9%) are the most often to help someone else (unless that someone else is driving a new mercedes with NJ license tags - I'm in VT.)

[bl968]

18. Posted this on Facebook today

I was sitting in Waffle House last night, and a guy was in there loudly talking about republicans and democrats, and how much he hated Democrats. He then started talking about just how bad his economic situation was.

I sat there listening because he was talking so loud; and thinking but you are supporting a party that could not care a bit about you, or your condition in life.

A party that outright blocks anything that would benefit the poor, or improves their lot; fights tooth and nail against anything that would help the middle class; yet gives massive tax cuts to the rich.

The vast majority of Republicans in office will do their damnedest to block a minimum wage increase. Yet at the same time 71% of Americans support raising the minimum wage to 15.00 per hour. People at or below the federal minimum are: Disproportionately young: 50.4% are ages 16 to 24; 24% are teenagers (ages 16 to 19). Mostly (77%) white; nearly half are white women. They are largely part-time workers (64% of the total), which sadly is most of the jobs available today in a cynical ploy to avoid paying benefits.

They say it will just result in prices increasing, people being laid off, or not hiring as many people but in reality people have to have money to be able to afford to buy products and services. So most likely it would result in something of an economic boom.

Nothing will change in this country until the poor and middle class realize that once they unite to elect people who will represent their interests no matter the party, then all the money in the world cannot stand against them.

It is time to wake up.

[tblue37]

19. Thanks. I neded that. K&R.

[JayhawkSD]

21. The self checkout makes it even worse.

I was at the grocery store when a young woman with a couple of kids put her stuff through the self checkout and didn't have enough money to pay the bill. The clerk overseeing things didn't know what to do, but then there was sort of a stampede of customers wanting to pay the difference. Must have been close to a dozen of us. It actually became sort of comedic. "Here, take this. No, no, let me."

[PatSeg]

22. Thank you for that!

[hootinholler]

23. So she got to keep her steak and lobster YAY!

because someone will think that headline was serious and I'm really a closeted teabagger.

Good on ya!

[ananda]

24. Beautiful!

Pass it on.

[BlueJazz]

26. I've done such things and I'll bet that every DUer worth their salt has done the same.

We are kind people.

[ybbor]

27. Wonderful story!

I am so glad that there are people like you, and the other women, and, actually I'll include my wife and myself in there as well, who are looking out for the people less fortunate. And lord knows we are just getting by ourselves, but I still feel compelled to help those just maybe one rung below us.

You made my day.

[joanbarnes]

28. Thank you and know that your kindness WILL be returned.

[heaven05]

29. my type of human beings

[seabeyond]

30. i think this is the upside with the net. i am hearing more of these stories told. part of the pass

forward is the mere thought, to start forward in compassion. and stories help us to even think about it.

i am seeing it in real life and on the net more and more

two people in line, jumped forward to lend a hand

excellent. and thanks. i liked that you gave half, and did not leave it at taken care of.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

35. Huge K&R for this uplifting story

We're all part of the HUMAN race, for heaven's sakes. The whole concept of "enemies" has always made me crazy. I've been very lucky in the past couple of months to make the acquaintance of Martha, a woman in her mid to late '70's. I recognized her walking in Old Town Pasadena and offered her a lift to where she was going. She was surprised and grateful, and I found her to be quite delightful. She's a retired insurance adjuster, never married, no family left, living on S.S. in subsidized housing with a positive outlook on life. But kinda lonely. We have exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and it's no skin off my nose to pick her up occasionally to do errands or go out for tea which she loves. Feels like I'm getting it paid forward to ME! If I've made her life a bit more cheery, she's very much enriched mine.

You grocery angels are AWESOME!! That is so immediate and beneficial.

[4lbs]

37. Stop redistributing the wealth, you moocher! People keep doing this and what will we have!?!?!?

Peace and Harmony?

Who the hell wants that?


Oh, wait, what was I saying?

[secondvariety]

38. Good karma

and a damn nice thing to do.

[Liberal_in_LA]

39. how nice of you

[Enthusiast]

41. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations! God bless you, CS!

You and the lady should be the people we vote for. People with actual compassion should be held up as examples.

[libdem4life]

42. Yeah! Pay it Forward. Blessings.

[Paper Roses]

43. A lesson to all of us. No matter how bad things seem at the moment,

helping someone who needs a hand will make our problems seem minor in comparison. I hope I can do the same some day.

I thank you and the other kind person.

[Skittles]

45. awwww

I gave a gal with two kids five bucks to cover her shortfall - I told her we all need help sometime......when I was getting into my car one of her boys ran over to me and said, "Thank you for helping my mom." OMG