The Smallest Things

Two days ago as I was heading out of the metro I stopped to add more value to my SmarTrip card. As I was approaching the kiosks I noticed this older gentleman lingering by the kiosks with a look of discernment. Not sure what he was in need of, I casually walked up to a kiosk near him and proceeded to add value to my card. As he witnessed my successful transaction he asked, “Could you help me? I can’t figure it out.” The man, if he could stand-up straight was barely my height and had an air of wisdom and kind-heartedness surrounding him. “No, problem,” I said as I took his Senior SmarTrip card and swiped it, then taking the crisp $10 bill he was holding and added that to the card, while trying to explain the process. He was beyond patient and his eyes spoke pure gratitude. He thanked me and shuffled away.

I hurriedly moved on to the escalators where (argh!!) I got stuck behind two people too busy talking that they didn’t bother to stay to the right side. Looking over at the other escalator, I whined a little, noting that it was free on the left-hand side. “pfft!” but then I looked down and saw the sweet man standing to the right, making sure he wasn’t in the way of any commuters trying to walk up the escalator.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to see a world whizzing by me, as I imagined that gentleman did. As I recounted the story to a friend I claimed that if I was in that situation as an older lady I would probably be whacking the kiosk with my big purse and grumbling about people who have no respect (which funny enough, doesn’t always take age for me to do that!). He was a nice reminder of the sweetness of civility and how it can make a world of difference.