“I’ll put that back for you”
While sitting in a supermarket parking lot, I saw a woman, I guess about 30 to 35ish, wearing a sky blue face mask and a ponytail, pushing a shopping cart to her minivan on her way out of the supermarket. A man, perhaps about 25 to 30ish, wearing white shorts with a gray t-shirt and a smile skipped across the parking lot, by which I mean he actually skipped, face mask in hand and "life is good" on his face, like he was excited that it finally doesn't feel like winter and isn't raining in Jersey. Or, perhaps it wasn't about anything other than the joy of feeling that way and being alive and having all his people alive with him. I don't know.
The woman finished with her cart and was about to push it to the place in the parking lot where the carts go. Just as she started to walk the cart over, the man crossed her path, noticed her, and approached her. He said, reaching toward the cart with his free hand, "I'll put that back for you." She handed it to him and, as he grabbed it, said, "I cleaned it already. I had sanitizer wipes." He said, "Oh...no. I just wanted to put it back for you," as he took the cart from her and to where the other carts go. She thanked him and he waved as he walked into the store.
I thought that was a nice moment and I just wanted to share it with someone. So, I'm sharing it with you. It's nice to look at and celebrate the cherry blossoms that are blooming this spring. It's also nice to celebrate moments where people are supporting each other and are kind to each other. Like the cherry blossoms, moments like these are blooming too. Both types of blossoms are there for us to enjoy.
I'm thinking of scenes from movies where someone sprinkles flower petals ahead of a ruler's or holy person's footsteps. Even if that can't literally happen for everyone, I hope we can all enjoy at least some moments where the petals of the blossom of this supermarket moment are sprinkled to greet and accompany you wherever you may find yourself.
Some people have had far too few of such moments. If that is you, I hope such moments surprise you when you least expect it.