Sight to Behold

We all need emotional sustenance. Sometimes, we find it in a surprising place when it’s least expected. That happened to me recently. I’d like to tell you the story.

This past Saturday afternoon, I walked into Smith’s grocery store on West Charleston. A Starbucks was near the front door. I approached the counter to place an order. While waiting for my coffee, I heard a strange sound. It was a faint sound of….tapping.

Tap, tap….Tap, tap….Tap, tap.

I looked over my right shoulder. A couple was passing by near the busy cashier area. A man and a woman, around 40 or so, were pushing a shopping cart. A little girl, maybe 4 or 5, sat in the cart seat. The man, with blonde hair and a bowl haircut, looked much like the late Austrian actor Oskar Werner (he’s pictured here–I didn’t know what other photo to use). The man walked slowly, but deliberately. He tapped his white cane against the tile floor. The woman, likely his wife, also tapped the tile floor. She tapped then leaned inward towards the grocery displays located at the end of aisles which were stocked with cans and boxes and food and drink products. Their cart had only one item in the basket (other than the little girl) — a giant pumpkin. In fact, the pumpkin was almost as big as the little girl.

Staring at people is rude. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help myself as I stood by and waited for my coffee. It was remarkable to watch this couple, and by that I mean it was a remarkable joy. They were so beautiful. They were so loving. The girl was so cute. Everything about them was mesmerizing to watch. Here they were, spending their Saturday shopping, making sense out of products and prices, this despite the obvious challenges. I felt tears, of what exactly, I don’t know. I just appreciated that moment. Something about it. Something about them.

And that’s when a strange sensation came over me. I knew I’d seen this man before — someplace. But I couldn’t pinpoint exactly where it was, nor remember why I’d encountered him before. But I knew this man from somewhere. I couldn’t shake his face, or his disability from my memory.

That’s when the couple did something funny, in a peculiar way. They tapped their canes and pushed the cart and wanted to pay for the giant pumpkin. However, they pushed the cart through the self-checkout at the exit, in the wrong direction. They also cut in line. No one said anything, of course, except the little girl who shouted out to mom and dad that other people were ahead of them. Both parents stopped and smiled and that’s when help arrived. They were directed to a scanner and a clerk assisted with the purchase. The man paid with a credit card, but he also asked the little girl to read the amount. Then, the tapping started again and the couple, with the little girl and a pumpkin made their way out of the store.

A few minutes passed. I bought a few things and was about to exit. That’s when it hit me. Suddenly, I remembered when and where I saw the man.

About five years ago, I drove for Lyft (the ride share company) for about a month’s time. One of the people I picked up from his home was a man. It was this man. One tends to remember things that are unusual. I remembered taking the man dressed in all white, with his cane, to…..karate practice! He was dropped off at a nearby karate school. Just imagine the unlucky attacker if someone went after this guy. “Give me your money,” followed by “WHAM!” A real badass. The personality fit. The self-reliance and determination fit. The whole picture fit.

Sometime later, I was surprised to leave the store and see the man, the woman, and the little girl and the basket with a pumpkin still waiting out in front of the grocery store. They were likely waiting on a ride share pickup. I looked at them and once again was overcome with an emotional reaction I did not expect to have. It was just a wave of —- I don’t know — LOVE. Maybe that’s the word I’m looking for. I pondered asking the family if they needed a ride. I’d be glad to take them to their home.

However, I decided to walk on and say nothing. Why treat them any differently because of disability? Why bring up meeting the man once before, years ago, and remembering it? What would that say to them, remembering that from years ago? Besides, why interrupt their moment? Why invade their Saturday?

I walked on, and passed by. Behind me, I heard the family talking and little girl began laughing. It was an entirely one-sided encounter. They were not aware of me, nor did they know of the impact they had on a stranger, and the gift they’d given me and anyone else who was paying attention on a typical afternoon that for me was very atypical.

I could not see them anymore, but I could hear voices. Her laughter was a most beautiful sound.