Small-town Love

 I wrote the email below to my friend Sandra, who then suggested I post it here. I agreed, it's important to share when good things happen and caring strangers reaffirm your faith in humanity. 

I was suffering from a too fast heart beat, as soon as I walked just a few steps, it would start. It's OK now, I stopped drinking coffee and my heart immediately slowed down. 

This is the email to Sandra: 

Yesterday, I had to shop. I tried my best to walk up and down the aisles, but it became too much for me and as I leaned over my cart, people came up and were concerned. One guy offered to do my shopping for me, just give me your list, he said. I didn't, but I thanked him. 

Someone else helped me push the cart to a young woman cashier at the check out place, she said she'd look after it. A store employee named Ben walked me to my car. Then he came back with a water bottle. Then he came back and checked on me again a couple of times. 

 When I felt better, I went back inside where I learned that they had already rung up all my groceries and the store had paid for them! The cashier told me someone had donated money to help customers who became ill while shopping in their store. 

The store: Save Mart.

This was truly a small-town America situation, not just the money, but all the help I got. And it was also wonderful because recently, when I haven't felt well, collapsing in the grocery store was my greatest fear. That feeling of making a fool of myself and disturbing others. 

Then all those wonderful things happened, people were so helpful and kind.