Not random or anonymous, nor was it a fail, more like an act of kindness mis-fire.
I had an ambulance patient yesterday that was having a major league anxiety attack. She had just about everything wrong with her that you could have as a lifestyle choice, and justifiably panicked when she contemplated her mortality.
We got her in the unit, did our usual stuff, and she wanted someone to hold her hand, so I did. I told her she could break my fingers if it would help. She soon calmed down a bit, and was having a better time on the ride while she dumped her fears and frustrations on us.
Then I piped up with, “You know, a pretty lady like you (she wasn’t) holding my hand, people are going to talk…” A line like that usually is a hit with elderly patients.
She recoiled and tried to let go. “If you think it’s going to cause a problem, let me go!”
“Hon, that was a flirty joke. You can hold my hand as long as you need to.”
She thought about it for a second or three, and a big old smile appeared for a few seconds more before she resumed her regularly scheduled freak-out.
In the case of a tollbooth where the cost is known in advance I can understand, but how do you pay for the food for the person behind you when you don’t yet know how much it’s going to cost?
I’d love to be able to do stuff like that, but how would I know how much to pay? Am I missing something here?
When I do the Starbucks thing, there is often no one in the drive thru behind me but I usually just do $5 as that pretty much covers one drink on the menu of whatever type/size. The only thing they can’t really do is accept more money from a debit card transaction because they have to have something to ring in. So if you’re going to do this for the theoretical next person who has not yet ordered, they can only do it if you just leave them an extra $5 bill.
In most fast food drive-throughs, there’s space for a couple of cars between the ordering microphone and the pickup/payment window. Ordering is faster than picking up the food and paying, so when it’s busy the car right behind you has usually already placed their order and is waiting for their turn at the pickup window. So the cashier already knows what their tab is, and can run it on your card as well. ComeToTheDarkSide’s suggestion of just leaving $5 works too.
To Freudian Slit, I’m very sorry if I gave that impression. I’ve been on a lot of drugs recently, so I’m sure it was my mistake. Bill’s housekeeper has never been anything but cheerful and professional. I’m the one who is intimidated by having someone who picks up after me.
As to the folks who got their offerings tossed in their faces, I’m all :eek:
This has never happened to me. The only time it was close was when a homeless kid wanted to sell me a game for money to buy food. One of the homeless places sells bags to give to homeless people. I carry them with me (I also carry catfood, dogfood and a carrier, I have SUCKER tattooed on my forehead in bright letters)
So…I gave the kid the bag and he dug around and then complained that he got Burger King coupons instead of McDonalds.
PS…the dog in question was picked up. I don’t know if his people got him or the Bulldog rescue did. Its a good thing. My cats wouldn’t be happy to have a smelly, drooly dawg in the house and when I go back to work, I’ll be gone 12 hours a day. Cats can deal with that, dogs need more attention.
I’m glad the story has a happy ending! Over here, Animal Control is pretty much a death sentence, so I gasped when reading your OP. But I see you guys have cool Animal Control. Whew!
And yeah, I do that thing too–that thing where you see an animal who might need a place to stay, and you immediately carve out how it’s going to work out at your house, because leaving it behind is never ever an option. heh!
Several years ago, a co-worker of mine was pregnant and struggling financially, yet still allowed a teenage relative to stay with her when he had nowhere else to go. I thought that was pretty nice of her, so I tucked $100 in cash in her bag when she wasn’t looking. I still have no idea whether she found it. I hope it didn’t get stuck in something she was going to throw away.
I was walking into Subway once and a homeless guy was sitting on the steps and asked me for money. At first I walked past him but then I turned around and offered to buy him a sandwich.
“Couldn’t we go get some fried chicken or a burger?” Hey buddy, you’re the one camping out in front of Subway. If you want some chicken, go park yourself at the KFC over there. I’m not driving you around in my car to fill your lunch order.
Unlike your guy, my guy decided a sandwich was better than nothing so I got him a buffalo chicken sub, chips and a drink. He didn’t understand the concept of standing in line so I had to hold him back from cutting in front of other customers, but when I left he was happily eating.
That is so wonderful. People like you make the world a better place.
I want to know too. CitizenPained, I honestly admire you. You are the sort of teacher that should be encouraged and retained. I was almost in tears when I read your post about giving your cottage cheese to a kid who had never tasted it and hadn’t had breakfast.
After the bills are paid, most of my “extra” money goes to cat rescue. If you have paypal, I could shift some of those meager funds to help fill your food closet. PM me and I’ll write you into my budget with a black sharpie.
The other day I was in a Starbucks and the person at the register to the right of me asked if they could break a hundred. They said no and before she offered her credit card i whipped out my phone and said I got you covered happy holidays and paid for her with the app on my phone.
She was happy and I get a point towards my next free drink so it’s a wash for me.
