Unexpected kindness
Muse #428 - we need more unknown strangers like this
The four of us had gone by to the lake last weekend to walk the dog. With better weather, we would probably do more of this loving ordeal. On our way back home, we stopped by a Starbucks drive-through to pick up some coffee and sweet nibbles.
There was a long line of cars in front of us and behind me. A large white three-row vehicle came from the opposite direction - the driver had obviously entered from the wrong direction and stood there confused looking at what to do - trying to decide on whether to drive around and join the line again by circling the store. But as the car before me moved, I waved him through to join the line ahead of me. And thankfully, the cars behind me didn't complain by honking me to complain.
We placed our orders and went to the pay and pickup counter. The stranger in the previous car had paid our nearly $20 bill and had driven away. It was an unexpected surprise. We felt immensely happy and humbled, and we dutifully paid forward for the next car in line without them knowing about it and left. We were not sure whether the chain continued, by these small acts of unexpected kindness by strangers who we might never ever meet again this lifetime made us feel more human.