“Last-Minute Gifts for $5” caught my eye in the Big Lots ads in yesterday’s paper. I thought of recent gifts of fives I’ve given and others I might give.
When we were in the Smokies in October, we stopped for a late lunch at Buddy’s Bar-b-q, our preferred barbecue in that area. Before all nine of us trooped in, I started rearranging the small tables into a long one for us to sit together. A sweet older lady (meaning at least my age!) was cleaning and straightening, and she immediately started helping me move tables after asking how many of us were coming.
As we ate, she picked up used paper products, clearing our mess unobtrusively. As we left, I started to put the tables back and she insisted she would do it. So I slipped her a $5 bill and thanked her. She was shocked but appreciative. Just $5 seemed to make her day. I don’t often think of doing such as that.
A six-year-old I know performed in his cello recital. We didn’t go, but the high-five I gave him when we talked about it made him grin ear to ear.
I don’t send Christmas cards to people if I can wish them “Happy Christmas” in person. So five people I want to send cards to are the five high school friends I re-connected with a few years ago. The memories prompted by writing each person’s name are precious, and I trust that receiving a card from me gives them warm feelings, too.
Last week Steve and I went to a Brian Regan show and ate downtown beforehand. We went first to Nada, a contemporary Mexican restaurant, for drinks. Then we had dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant, Akash Indian, just down the street.
No tables were available at Nada and the bar was crowded, but we managed with our drinks, chips, and salsa. Just as we were ready to leave, a server stopped us and offered us a free queso dip–evidently a wrong order for someone. We took it gladly because we love it and their homemade chips and we had time.
Before leaving, Steve found the young man and gave him a five. The guy insisted he didn’t need anything, but he still seemed very pleased. It made us feel good, too, for we know servers depend on their tips. Five is not a great sacrifice, but for some people it’s a lot.
So whether it’s $5 or a high-five or five cards, I’m really thinking of fives these days.
And, as a side note, I admit I suffered a severe after-gluttony attack from all I ate at two restaurants in one night. Sometimes even two can be too much.
