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About three weeks ago I stopped at a drive-in window of Dunkin' Donuts to buy my usual, large coffee, black, no sugar. . When the lady handed me my coffee she said, "The gentleman ahead of you paid for your coffee". His car had already left. I wanted to wave or say "thank you" or smile but the driver was off in a different direction. Although a small random act of kindness, it felt like such an unexpected blessing that I wanted to pay it forward so that someone else could have that same nice feeling. So, last week, I did it! As I came up to the window to pay, I asked the cashier if the lady behind me had ordered coffee. She did, so I said I wanted to pay for it. In keeping with the model I followed, I left and was gone before she could see me or find where I was. Have you ever had anything like that ever happen to you?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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No, never for coffee, but we had an even better experience. We were going to the Seattle Mariners baseball game, and parking in the Safeco Field garage was $30. When we got to the guy taking the money he said that the people ahead of us had paid for our parking. He explained that two couples in their group had season tickets that included parking and they had only brought one car that day. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time!
I've fortunately never run into this, or even ever heard of it before that thread, but I don't go to either Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, or any place that has a drive-through, really.
Not a story of total strangers like in the OP, but along those lines anyway.
Once about a year ago I entered a restaurant for lunch near the elementary and middle schools where I volunteer. At one of the outdoor tables were three women whom I recognized as being parents of students. I said hello and went on inside. When I called for my check after eating the waitress informed me that "those ladies out front" had paid my bill. They were already gone, of course, but I knew one of the names and did some asking around about the other names and sent a written thank-you note home with their children to all three.
It was totally unexpected. I took it as a token of appreciation for the volunteer work I do at the two schools. It is impossible to over-state how good it made me feel - talk about a warm fuzzy!
Not a story of total strangers like in the OP, but along those lines anyway.
Once about a year ago I entered a restaurant for lunch near the elementary and middle schools where I volunteer. At one of the outdoor tables were three women whom I recognized as being parents of students. I said hello and went on inside. When I called for my check after eating the waitress informed me that "those ladies out front" had paid my bill. They were already gone, of course, but I knew one of the names and did some asking around about the other names and sent a written thank-you note home with their children to all three.
It was totally unexpected. I took it as a token of appreciation for the volunteer work I do at the two schools. It is impossible to over-state how good it made me feel - talk about a warm fuzzy!
Now that was very nice and a token of appreciation aimed specifically for you. Apparently with the Starbucks game, you keep paying for the next person and if you break the chain, you're some kind of slime.
I had a gentleman behind me at the drive-thru at Starbuck's pay for my coffee and sandwich. When I pulled up to the cashier's window, she told me the gentleman behind me was paying. I waved at him and he waved back.
Yes! And it made my day! Since then I have done it several times. Over the years I have pitched in a couple times when the person in front of me was short at the cash register and it makes me feel good to be able to help someone. AND it means the line moves faster!
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