Something I've never done before

I remember when I was in elementary school, my class went to the US Mint for a field trip. I don't remember what grade I was in, who my teacher was, or any of the details of the trip, except for the fact that for a souvenir I came home with a tiny bag of shredded money. The money was most likely discarded cash that had been taken out of circulation for being so badly worn, torn or damaged. What better way to turn a profit than to charge money, for money, right? I remember telling my brother (though I'm sure he's forgotten this) that I was going to dump out the shredded cash, tape all the pieces together to form real money, and then spend it at Toys R Us. Like I was majorly strapped for cash, or something.

Of course I'm sure 5 minutes later I had forgotten about the teeny Ziploc-baggy of cash and was outside riding my bike, never to look at it again. But thinking back on this memory made me realize that I can't pinpoint a single moment in my life where I have been seriously strapped for cash. I've done my share of making poor decisions with my money, or over drafting my college bank account. But I have never been concerned with scraping together some change or a few bucks, just to make a meal.

Today I had to return an item that I had bought online (sorry hubs!) to Nordstrom's. As I was leaving the Pentagon city mall parking garage, after my item return, I pulled up to the cashier, rolled my window all the way down, and pulled out two single dollar bills from my wallet. I handed the cashier my parking ticket and when she swiped it, the amount showed up $1.50. Instead of just handing her both $1 bills, I quickly grabbed two quarters out of my change purse and paid in exact change. She let up the gate, and with my window still rolled down and my other $1 bill still firmly in my grasp, I pulled out of the garage, into the far left lane to turn on to the highway, and stopped at the red light.

That's when I saw him. The older, bald, black man...walking with a limp and using a cane to support his balance. A black book bag at his feet. He turned around, and in his hand was a sign that read "homeless, and looking for work. please help."

Without thinking, I immediately stuck my hand -- my diamond encrusted wedding band hand -- still with the $1 bill in it, straight out my window and waved it in his direction.

For as long as I live, I will never forget that look -- the smile -- that pulled across this man's face from ear-to-ear, as he hobbled towards my window, still keeping enough distance as to not scare me, and gently took the dollar from my hand while nodding his head thank you over and over again. And then, still without thinking, I said "God Bless You". Words that I have rarely ever used without a preceding sneeze.

And that man? That homeless man. Dirty, tired, and clearly in pain. Smiled even bigger and repeated back to me "God Bless YOU".

With that, the light changed and I sped up the highway. But I couldn't keep my mind off of the exchange that had just taken place.

I have no way of knowing if that man was truly homeless, or if he just panhandled for a day job. I have no way of knowing if that man used the dollar to buy lunch, or to buy booze. But in that moment, I could have cared less. Because while that dollar by itself meant very little to me, to him it meant so much more. I felt oddly free. And my heart felt full.

So maybe my heart was still reeling from the effects of watching "Idol Gives Back" last night...and maybe Carrie Underwood's "36 cents" was still humming in my ears. But even if it was only 100 pennies worth, I had helped to make that man's day. I gave back to a stranger, without once thinking about the consequences of my action. And that's something I've never done before.

But it's something I will do again.