90 Year old WW II Veteran at Costco

Today I wasn't feeling very well. I took the day off from teaching, then realized that I had errands to run. We went to pick up Thane, went to the library then decided to go to Costco for some lunch. As we were sitting in the very crowded cafeteria, I noticed and old man sitting alone right behind where the line forms. As people walked by him, he would smile at everyone, but no one smiled back! My heart was broken! He was wearing an old Army jacked adorned with metals, and every once and a while he would look down and make sure his medals were strait.

We finished our food as I watched him to make sure he didn't leave before we could go talk to him. When we were done, we walked right up to him and said "Amara and Sinjin, look at the medals on his jacket!" He smiled so big and put his hands up in the air (almost Halleluia- ish) and said "I am ninety years old, and I don't have anything to do all day, so I come here and smile at everyone!" Then he said to Sinjin "is it your birthday? I have something for you." Then he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his wallet. He grabbed one dollar bill for Amara and one dollar bill for Sinjin (while we were protesting of course) and said "Oh, don't worry, I have lots of money and nothing to do! I am Ninety years old, I was born August 12, 1918!" He repeated himself a few times about smiling at everyone and when his birthday was, then we asked him about his medals. He pointed at each one and told us they were for being a brave soldier in WW II. We thanked him for sharing with us and told him we loved his jacket and went on our way.

I am so grateful for that experience! I am not the one who usually goes up to total strangers and starts conversations, I know I was guided to Costco today! He left a lasting impression on my life and my childrens' lives as well, and I hope we brighted his day also!