I hope everyone will use this forum to share stories that makes us smile. There is nothing that brightens up my day like hearing about an unexpected happiness. I like to tell this story that happened to me last year because it combines several of my favorite things: Christmas, pets, nice people, and coincidence.
Wednesdays are doggie play days. I drop my dog off at a friend's house on my way to work and she and his dogs play together all day and then get to go to the park in the afternoons. We’ve been doing this every Wednesday for...well, ever.
That Wednesday though, my friend had a conflict so we swapped play day to Thursday instead.
So after work Wednesday I began doing some errands in preparation for my upcoming vacation. One of those errands was buying traveler’s checks at my bank.
Like most everyone else I have become a creature of convenience and realized as I went inside the bank – the same bank I’ve been going to for fifteen years – that because of ATM’s, night deposits, bank-by-phone and drive-through, I’ve only gone inside my bank a handfull of times. I walked by the guard who was standing outside and nodded hello. He was an older gentleman with a sad expression who ignored me.
As I stood talking to the teller who was preparing my checks I kept glancing out the front door to my truck where my dog sat in the passenger seat with her head out the window, her chin resting on the frame. The guard saw her, too, and walked over to her. I noticed him holding out his hand palm down for a sniff; and getting a friendly response began to pet her gently on her precious head.
The teller also noticed this sweet sight and said to me “He recently lost his wife.”
That made me sad and I then understood his expression when I first passed. This would be his first Christmas without his wife.
After finishing my business I walked to my truck and stopped to talk to the guard who was still stroking my dog on her head and around her ears.
“She’s a beautiful dog” he said. “I used to have a dog that looked kind of like her. Had him for about fifteen years. He finally died a couple of years ago. I wanted to get another one ever since, but then my wife got sick…and it never seemed like the right time…”
I began chatting with him, telling him how much she meant to me and how she was so much company and gave me so much love. He nodded as I was talking, I’m sure remembering his own love too.
Then we fell silent and I felt bad about leaving. All of a sudden I blurted out that the SPCA was having a huge adoption that weekend. I told him it was a joint effort between the SPCA and several various rescue groups and would be held at the Mobile SPCA. I suggested he might want to go over there and look around…see if he could find a dog he liked.
He seemed genuinely interested and asked several questions about location and times. Then he asked if I’d be there.
I told him no, that I was leaving to go on vacation and he looked disappointed again. “But I have a good friend who will be working…if you’re interested in going over there I’ll give you her name and maybe she could help you.”
He nodded and agreed and I found a piece of paper and pen and wrote all the particulars down for him. He looked it over and smiled. “I’m gonna go over there on Saturday. Thanks!” His whole expression had changed, as if he was now happy to have something joyful to look forward to.
I turned to leave and said “That’s great. The next time I come to the bank I’ll check with you and see if you found a new friend.”
“Good” he said. And as I climbed in the truck he turned again and said “Be sure to come on a Wednesday. That’s the only afternoon I work.”
-frolix