Was out getting few more provisions for couple of senior citizens I'm helping out during this shit show.
I topped off my tank at gas station and noticed beat-up old Honda pull up on other side of pump. Young guy w/ older woman in car w/ him (mother, aunt?), his face showing stress.
He knocked on my passenger window, I rolled it down and he said, 'Ma'am, I have been laid off for 2 wks and don't know when I'll see another paycheck. I hate asking but do you have a few $$ to spare so I can get gas to get to other side of the county before they shut down travel tonight?'
Without hesitation, I gave him $10 bill, telling him to 'pay it fwd when you can, young man.'
Was he being truthful or just grifting me? I'll never know but I do trust in karma (my belief/philosophy) and that if he was being a shyster, he'd eventually have to be held accountable in front of whatever entity he believes, if any.
Those checks from our Congress critters won't be in our hands any time soon. Those who live paycheck-to-paycheck, hand-to-mouth are already suffering.
In the 5 seconds I took to assess his situation, I trusted my gut instinct and gladly gave him $10.
Hoping he will remember my words, 'Bless your heart, sir. Pay it forward and don't break the chain.'
It's not just an American thing to do. It's just being human.
And thought struggles against the results, trying to avoid those unpleasant results while keeping on with that way of thinking. That is what I call 'sustained incoherence.' ...David Bohm
“How, O Zenobia, hast thou dared to insult Roman emperors?” ...Aurelian, 44th Emperor of the Roman Empire
United States