On Valentine's and good deeds...

On a cold and rainy Wednesday morning, I somehow manage to roll out from under the comfort of my bed, throw on some clothes and stumble out the door. As I follow the monotonous line of traffic for miles and rub the sleep from my eyes, I think to myself: ‘Is six-thirty really necessary?’ The rain pounds down on my windshield and the wipers whisk it away over and over again. ‘Gotta make money somehow.’ Then I realized the date (2-14). Seconds later, a coy smile spread across my face.
Today is Valentine’s Day and I can’t help but wonder: why do we have to set aside only one day a year on which we show our love? Shouldn’t we do it like, I don’t know, EVERY DAY? It sure would make people happier, because let’s face it, Valentine’s Day makes people happy. I mean, if I got a cheesy e-card every day saying how much someone cared, I’d be set for life. So there are people who really enjoy today, like me, but there are also the downers.
If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s when people call V-Day “Singles-Awareness Day”. Lame. That’s really the only word that comes to mind. If you’re single today, then it’s not your job to get everyone to feel sorry for you! Go get a date or something! I can’t wait for the day to unfold, as I’m sure I’ll be receiving at least one text message in which someone let’s me know that they’re single…
A few evenings ago, I was helping a friend of mine with her homework. We somehow got on the subject of lunch as we were sharing a bad of Cheez-Its and I mentioned that I had no money for lunch earlier that day, so I just went without. She inquired as to why. Here’s the story:
I had visited the local QuikTrip that morning (as I am often wont to do). I pulled up to the curb and hit it a little harder then I had expected, so I was jolted and then everybody turned to see who the big idiot who hit the curb was. I smiled and waved to one woman who had a permanent scowl on her face as if she was the Evil Ms. Potato Head or something. Getting out of the car, my shoe came to a delightful little meeting with the big puddle right beneath the door. It was soaked and that’s when it hit me. Today just wasn’t shaping up to be a good day.
I hurried to the inviting doors of the best convenient store on earth and just as I was about to pull one open, I heard a voice: “Could you spare some change, sir?” I wheeled around to see who had made the request. There, on the sidewalk was on old man. He wore clothes that were unkempt and ragged as if he had just gotten in a fight with a bucket of dirt and car oil, and it won. His beard was littered with bits of grass and crumbs. His face was weathered and it had the appearance of a stone statue that had been exposed to the elements for ages. Most of all, he looked like he was on his last rope. Down for the count. Hopeless.
Of course, I felt sorry for him. This is where the losing of the lunch money comes into play. I pulled out my wallet and handed him the lone five. I also happened to have a small bag of Sun Chips, which I gave to him. The man accepted them with two tons of grace. I received about ten thank-you’s and a few more “God bless you’s”. Quite frankly, I kinda felt like Jesus.
After I told my friend my story, she looked at me with a blank stare. “Don’t you know that the whole point of a secret act of kindness is that it’s supposed to be…secret?” I shrugged my shoulders and grabbed another handful of Cheez-Its.
I can’t wait till she reads this because I just told the whole world. Oops.