August 4th, 2011 at 9:42 P.M

We had just finished dinner and for some strange reason my siblings and i still wanted more food. So we went to the Korean Market to pick up some random snacks and munchies. We broke off into teams and my older sister and i went off into the snack section while my other siblings went off to find ice cream. As we walked down the aisle we noticed an elderly man - 82, black. He seemed to have been trying to pick up his bag with no luck, i could only assume that based on his walker he had a frail back. So we walked over picked it up for him and asked if he needed assistance. Turns out he had been in that same aisle for about 40 minutes unable to leave because of a pain in his back. We asked him if we could help him to the check out, we did. As he was walking away my older sister prompted me to ask him if he needed a ride home. Turns out he lives two blocks away at the elderly home. 

During the two block car ride we were given a glimpse of his life. He was a teacher during the civil rights movement and taught literature and writing for over 20 years. However, was forced to stop when he discovered he had cancer. Though he joked and said it just gave him a reason to retire. As we reached our destination, he began to cry. My sister asked him what was wrong. He replied,

“Kindness. This is the most kindness anyone has showed me in years.” That he will remember our faces and our gesture for the rest of his life. well he joked that it wouldn’t be long. 

I’m certainly not telling you to go out and give people rides home, especially in this time we live in. But remember a good deed goes a long way and sometimes a simple smile and hello can help a person out. 

oh, his name was Jerry.