"Pay it forward"
by Chef Joe Marsola Eidem
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person.Dictionaries describe a "senior citizen" as a person over the age of 65.
Well according to our dictionaries I will be 62 in December, so officially I am not a "Senior" citizen. However I have always looked 5 to 10 years older than I really am. I attribute that to a good fast exciting life!
I have noticed lately that I am being asked more often if I need help with my groceries, or if I need help placing my carry on in the overhead bin. I also notice that if I am lifting something there is always a younger person and sometimes an "older" person offering to lift it for me. I thought all these gestures were just kindness and pity on a "Senior" citizen. But soon I started to see that it was not only me, people are helping other people. People are stopping to help their neighbors. People are starting to use the simple words of "Please and Thank you". I notice that more companies are teaching customer service to their staff. Take a drive through at In & Out Burger, those kids are outstanding. Have a coffee at Starbucks, they will actually ask "How are you?" and look in your eyes when they ask. I think they really want to know and I don't drink coffee.
We Baby Boomers come from a generation of "children who are to be seen not heard." My children needed to express themselves, however, they are very polite which I appreciate. This all leads to my story of an experience I had in a shopping center parking lot recently.
It was a Sunday afternoon and I thought It would nice to take my classic Caddy convertible out for a short drive. If you own a classic car you know they are not much different than a classic like me, always in need of repair. After some shopping I decided to stop and get a drink, ok I really needed to use the bathroom, but I bought a soda anyway. Going out of the door a young family was entering. They saw me and immediately open the door and motioned for me to exit. I thought to myself, what a nice family, three kids, a Mom and Dad. They let the "Old Guy" out first, so I thanked them and I went to my car.
As I started my car to my surprise it would not start! I tried, but no go, the battery was dead. Like most guys I sat there in amazement. I waited a few minutes and tried again. Ok once the battery is dead it is dead, it will not recharge itself the longer I sit and stare at the gages. All of a sudden I hear a young man asking if everything is alright. My thoughts, "It's 90 degrees, I am sitting in a convertible with a dead battery, sure everything is just fine" but I said "I think my battery is dead." The young man who I recognized as the Dad with the family says, "I have jumper cables, I will go get them."
In a minute he pulls up in a PT Cruiser and starts connecting his cables. I open my hood which is twice the size of his entire car. We connect the cables and I try to start my car, but nothing. I checked my receipts in the glove compartment and found out I bought the battery in 2000. As polite as he could be he states, "Well you got your money out of it" with a smile. I thanked him for his help and said I would walk over to Target or somewhere else to get a new battery.
Even though his family was patiently waiting for him, he would not take "no" for an answer. He tells me there is a Costco close by and he will drive me. I show some resistance, I don't know this guy and he doesn't know me. His family is sitting outside in the hot sun. I told him no worries, I would figure something out. We both knew Target does not sell batteries! But he would not leave! He informed his family that he will be right back, asked if I had a Costco card, if not he had one. What was I going to say? I really had no choice, so off we went in his PT Cruiser to Costco and I bought a new battery. Once we got back to the car I thanked him again but he still would not leave. He wanted to make sure the battery was the problem. Of course he lifted the battery and placed the old one in my trunk. I did get to tighten the bolts and yes I did have some tools with me.
In the meantime his family comes over to the car, all in a great mood, even after sitting in the hot sun! My car started on the first try. I offered to pay for his gas or just give him a tip, no way! He told me it was an honor to help. His wife asks if there was anything else they could do? I thank them all and was amazed with their kindness.
In 2000 a movie came out about an 11½-year-old seventh grader who was given a social studies assignment to devise and put into action a plan that will change the world for the better. His plan is a charitable pyramid scheme, based on good deeds rather than profit. He called his plan "Pay it forward" which means the recipient of a favor does a favor for a third party rather than paying the favor back. In my case, I was the third party. I hear about all the terrible things in our world but when it gets down to it, people are helping people and its working. This gentleman taught his children a valuable lesson, one they may remember, when their Dad helped an old man in a very old car.
I will leave you with this simple thought. "I don't know what today will bring, but I hope tomorrow I can look back on today and know I made it a better day for myself and everyone I met".
Eat well and stay healthy, Chef Joe Marsola Eidem