One day in the midst of the holiday season of 2021 we went to run in for a few things we needed at Costco.
I was picking up pecans and almonds for the caramel corn, trust me, only really special people are getting nuts, and saw that the price of vanilla is much better this year than last. It was around $26.00 and the exact same bottle in 2020 and in 2021 a bottle was $15.95. I use a lot of vanilla when making caramel corn.
I decided to go through regular checkout rather than self serve as there was only one person before me. As soon as I started unloading four other people lined up behind me. The lady in front of me had toilet paper and paper towels. They rang her up and then the cashier noticed the vanilla in the cart that had been hidden by the big rolls.
I looked at the people behind me and I could see they were not happy that the cashier was going to have to start a new transaction. I told the cashier to add it to my bill. Of course the woman said no, I said yes, we went back and forth and I won.
I told her I don’t go to any fast food where people pay it forward and that since COVID I don’t go to stores except Costco.
She explained that she was buying vanilla because she lost her job and with the rising cost of everything she can’t afford to buy gifts so she decided to bake and give those to family and friends.
I told her that now she can tell everyone that God provided the vanilla for their gift and then share the story. Everyone in line was smiling and happy and didn’t mind the delay at all. It was worth the money to know that I had a part in every gift she makes this year. And I got to make everyone else happy.
The cashier said that never happens and she was thrilled. Now, trying getting out without an item that’s on your receipt. She told us to both make sure to tell them why she was over and I was under.
I remember that day and I’m going to COSTCO this week. Maybe another opportunity will happen and I can play a part in someone else’s holiday.
