Nice People Make Me Happy!

The title says it all.  Nice people simply make me happy.  Unfortunately, in today's society, it often seems as though the nice people aren't nearly as frequently come across as those who are mean or pessimistic.

Dave and I have decided that we must be doing something right these days, because we've had two of the best encounters with strangers in the past 24 hours.  It makes me smile.

It all started last night. 

Dave called me from work, (on someone else's phone) during the day yesterday, to tell me that he had dropped his phone and it was no longer working.  Ugh.  We DO NOT have money to replace an iphone was my first thought. Then he lays it on me that he tried to "fix" it himself, so therefore had voided the warranty. FANTASTIC.  He got home last night, and we had some other running around to do, and when we were done, we went to AT&T before heading home.  Just as we had imagined, they could do nothing for less than $300 to help us out.  Double Ugh!  James, the very nice employee at the store encouraged us to go home and call the customer service number before canceling the service, which was Dave's other option. 
Although, that would have cost us $265, so we wouldn't have saved much.  Well, the suggestion to call customer service didn't fall on open ears, as I would often rather chew off my right arm than deal with them.  He also suggested that we go visit the Apple Store in the mall, to see if there was anything they could do.

After leaving the store VERY defeated, with no hope, we checked in with Auntie Kim and Brady who were keeping Rei-Guy, and wandered down to the Apple Store.  We had to make an appointment with one of the techs, and had to wait around for another 25 minutes. 

Robert called Dave's name, and we walked up to the counter, as though our feet were stuck in quicksand.  Robert asked what happened, Dave explained, and with no question, Robert GAVE DAVE ANOTHER PHONE.  FOR FREE!  Robert is amazing.  It was supposed to be a $200 fix according to the signs in the store.  He didn't even ask any questions.  Just gave him a new one.  I'm guessing my hoop of joy could be heard at Penny's.  Just goes to show you, nice people, like Robert, do exist.

Then....today rolled around.  Reilly and I were out in the sun at the fair most of the day, and Dave was in the hot shop, so neither of us felt like making a big dinner, but were both hungry.  I had recently cut out a coupon for Outback Steakhouse from the paper, and also had a gift card from one of my generous families at school.  So we decided to load up the car, and head to dinner. 

I'm going into insert right here, that taking Reilly into restaurants is NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING A GOOD EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW, but we put on our smiles and hoped for the best.

So we get seated, in a booth, so Reilly didn't have to be tortured, err, put into a highchair, and he could just stand or sit next to me.  We were sitting there, after having ordered, and Reilly had picked up the salt shaker and put it on the table rather harshly.  Here's what happened next.

I see an older gentleman get up from his booth, which was two down from ours and walk our way.  In my mind, I'm thinking, "Oh no, oh no, oh no.  It was only one time and Dave has already taken the salt shaker away."

O.G. "Excuse me, can I ask you folks a question?"
Dave "Sure"
O.G. "Would you like to share our Awesome Blossom Onion?"
Dave (who is looking at me like this man has just asked for a million dollars) "Excuse me?"
O.G. "Well, we ordered it, and just saw another one come out of the kitchen, and they are huge, so we're just going to tell our waitress to cut it in half if you will eat it.  We know we won't be able to, and it will go to waste.  Will you please enjoy it?"
Dave "Um, ok.  Thank you very much, we would love to."

I'm just sitting there staring at the man, wondering if he was for real. 

So the waitress brings out the onion, they explain what they want to happen, she takes it back into the kitchen, cuts it in half and brings us both a plate.  Seriously?  Is this really happening?

So we enjoy our onion, and our meals come, all while Reilly is throwing everything he can get his little hands on, had been in 2 time outs, which required him to stare at the wall and was screaming like we were beating him.  Dining out has really become a challenge to see just how fast we can eat without choking and getting out of the restaurant before we are asked to leave.

Dave finished first and took Reilly outside and I waited for the bill.  As I was waiting for our bill, I noticed the older gentleman and his wife were also paying.  I asked the waitress how much the onion was so I could pay for it, and she replied, "Well, that gentleman thought you might try, so he kindly requested that I refuse to answer you."  Ok, so that didn't work.

I paid and got up to leave.  I walked over to their table to thank them again, and offered to give them money towards the onion and both REFUSED to even think about taking any of my cash.  His wife kept insisting that it was going to go to waste and they would have rather someone enjoyed it than do that.  We ended up walking towards the door together and I kept thanking them over and over.

Before leaving, the sweet old man reached over and grabbed my arm and this is what he said.  "Honey, I know that you and your husband were frustrated with your son, but you should know that he didn't bother a single person in there, and if he did, then they should have gotten up to leave.  Don't ever be embarrassed by that sweet little boy, we thought he was adorable."  I'm not sure anything could have meant more to me in that moment.

I don't know what we're doing right these days to deserve the kindness that has been showered upon us these past two days, but I pray we keep doing it.  I pray even harder that someone, someday, will be writing about the kindness I have showed them.  I've had two great examples in the last 24 hours to learn from.