From Dick Benesh
Brodhead
A few days ago I was having breakfast with a friend in Monroe's Blue Ox café. The atmosphere is informal and chatty. The many customers were obviously regulars. There were any number of ongoing conversations and friendly banter between the patrons and the waitresses. It was altogether "homey" and relaxing. A community gathering place typical for a small town. I wasn't aware when the smiling waitress greeted us with menus that I was about to be a part of a remarkable moment. She took my order and then turned to my friend. There was a brief discussion about omelettes. When asked about toast he inquired if he might have raisin bread. She responded with a yes but it would be 20 cents extra. I suggested that he might bring his own raisins. She looked at me, saying, "There's an elderly gentleman who comes in nearly every morning and he brings a banana." To my curious, "Oh?" she smiled, saying, "I take it in the back and have it sliced for him." I was so surprised I could only stammer a, "That's very nice of you." With that another smile and she was gone. "That's remarkable," I said to my friend. An unsolicited, random act of kindness.
In itself, her action may seem insignificant but in my view it has a much greater meaning for all of us. How might that be? Later, when she brought our orders I said, "You know, just slicing the banana for the gentleman seems a small thing, but the larger meaning for him is that you cared." "We should all be so caring." She offered a broad smile and left. My friend looked at me and smiled. Thus, the relatively small act with the banana was responsible for bringing smiles to at least three people. Think about it, you never know when you might have a banana-slicing opportunity.
Brodhead
A few days ago I was having breakfast with a friend in Monroe's Blue Ox café. The atmosphere is informal and chatty. The many customers were obviously regulars. There were any number of ongoing conversations and friendly banter between the patrons and the waitresses. It was altogether "homey" and relaxing. A community gathering place typical for a small town. I wasn't aware when the smiling waitress greeted us with menus that I was about to be a part of a remarkable moment. She took my order and then turned to my friend. There was a brief discussion about omelettes. When asked about toast he inquired if he might have raisin bread. She responded with a yes but it would be 20 cents extra. I suggested that he might bring his own raisins. She looked at me, saying, "There's an elderly gentleman who comes in nearly every morning and he brings a banana." To my curious, "Oh?" she smiled, saying, "I take it in the back and have it sliced for him." I was so surprised I could only stammer a, "That's very nice of you." With that another smile and she was gone. "That's remarkable," I said to my friend. An unsolicited, random act of kindness.
In itself, her action may seem insignificant but in my view it has a much greater meaning for all of us. How might that be? Later, when she brought our orders I said, "You know, just slicing the banana for the gentleman seems a small thing, but the larger meaning for him is that you cared." "We should all be so caring." She offered a broad smile and left. My friend looked at me and smiled. Thus, the relatively small act with the banana was responsible for bringing smiles to at least three people. Think about it, you never know when you might have a banana-slicing opportunity.
