That's really sweet! I do that all the time when grocery shopping and most people will give a quick thanks but certainly not roses!

I'm surprised at the guy who was sarcastic towards you - I wonder what his problem was. Did the boys go between you and him? Were they there while you were talking to him?

I'm glad you shared this with us. Too often we hear the bad about people. It's nice to hear there's the good ones too. And I almost always let people go ahead of me that only have one or two items.

Shirley

Chi, yes the man and his wife were in front of me. Yes, the boys heard me talking to the man. Actually, when he asked me if I let the two boys in front of me and ask why, his wife chimed in and said she was probably trying to put some distance between herself and you then she smiled. lol

What a lovely story. I bet when he explains why there are only 11 roses, instead of the expected dozen, he might get rewarded for his kindness yet again.

There still are kind thoughtful persons in this world! Beautiful rose~

lol, he sounds like a grump. Maybe next time he's in that situation himself he'll let someone go ahead. Glad this gesture made your day!

Tears in my eyes…..such a sweet story. I feel sorry for the wife of that man!. I always let someone go in front of me when they have a few things and I have a lot. I guess that man never learned the Golden Rule, and those two young boys learned a lot today. First, there are some jerks in this world. Second, there are nice people in this world and last but not least, it's nice when someone does something nice for you, but even nicer when you can do something nice for someone else.

How wonderful! I love hearing about nice gestures like this. The rose is gorgeous and yellow is my favourite. Enjoy!

What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing.

That was so sweet. Kids get such a bad rap these days. Happy you got to experience it. But.......lol

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I love happy stories. That kid will always remember what you did. I hope he pays it forward.

How nice of you, rotten of the man, and wonderful of the young man you let go ahead of you! Love that pretty rose!

That was a sweet story and I'm happy that you shared it!

That is such a sweet story!!

That really is sweet! The guy who talked to you deserved one of the thorns.

Thanks for sharing a lovely story. I never get tired of hearing Good News stories.

Enjoy your rose!! How thoughtful of him.

We let people ahead of us all the time if we have a cart full and they only have a few items. It's called courtesy. It was really nice though, of the boys to give you a rose to say thank you! I've never seen that done before. :)

What a beautiful story and such a beautiful rose! I love yellow too.

I'm hoping that the boys, of course, learned a good lesson and also that the crabby pants guy learned one too. Must not have been the first time for crabby since his wife made that comment. Good for her.

I also will send someone ahead who only has an item or two. But more often I have been on the receiving end of that kindness. Also holding doors for others. I always do it as I'm going out, hold it for the next person. Sometimes they thank me, sometimes they don't.

It is so easy to do little courteous things.

How sweet of you and the young man!

Great story, katlan.

I often let people go first ... tell them that I'm retired, so have more time than they do.

And often, if I (being single and not buying a bunch of stuff) come to checkout with a couple of things, people let me go first.

I am sure to thank them for their kindness. Often there's a possibility of saying something else to make a connection, in the short time that we are near one another.

In these times when we seem to be more distanced from one another than in earlier times, I think that it's important not only to build even momentary bridges between people but to discover ways to build community activities and spirit, to consider others as important, to care for others.

My boss of a couple of thousand years ago said that we should love our neighbour as ourselves ...

... and mischievous Ed often adds ... " ... but not my neighbour's wife".

ole joy-fuelled

That is such a sweet story. I always let people with one or two items go ahead of me and people let me go ahead when I only have a couple of items. Yesterday I ran to the store to get a bag of dog food. I got a 38 pound bag and could hardly lift it into my cart. The checker asked the bagger to help me get in my car. On our way out a young man walked by and said he could carry it for me. He was so friendly and put it in my trunk an then said "God bless you".

Wow! Nice.

What a nice young man. I hope the girl who got the other 11 roses realises he's a keeper :-)

As for the old grump, well I guess karma will catch up with him and no one will do him any courtesies. Seriously, why would you not let someone with one item slip in ahead of you, unless you had some pressing reason to check out and leave?

Beautiful story. I'm sure the grumps wife gave him the what for when they got to their car or home. Makes you feel so good. Wonderful young man. Thanks for sharing.

Reading this made my heart smile!!

I always let people in front of me, a simple "thank you" is nice but a rose is such a sweet thing to do! I think being courteous is contagious. People get so happy when you offer for them to go ahead. Apparently not everyone knows that it's just common courtesy to allow someone with just a few items to go ahead of you if you have a whole basket full. Often times, they are long gone before you get a chance to unload your shopping cart onto the conveyor belt so it really doesn't even slow you down.

An older lady using one of the electric carts, was having trouble turning around to get in line. The lane in front of me opened up and the cashier asked for the next person in line. I suggested the lady (who was trying to maneuver behind me) go ahead - she did and never acknowledged me, wouldn't look at me and never said thank you or good bye, Won't let it deter me from doing it again, but I really expected more from the older generation...

You set a good example for the boys. Now they will pass it on (let's hope!! No, no, I'm SURE they will!).

I let a young guy go ahead of me once....it started a conversation....that led to him saying....I bet you know my mom... I looked at him and smiled....said well maybe I might know your grandmother. He told me his grandmother was too old to know me, and told me how "old" she was. I smiled (laughed inside)
He told me how old she was. I was older than his grandmother.
After I told him he loaded my basket for me....LOL...made my day.

The yellow rose is beautiful....I carried the same yellow roses at our wedding. Which will be our 49th this May.

I offer others with fewer items, or that frantic "I'm not going to make it to the school on time!" grimace, to check out ahead of me. But over the past few years I have encountered a half-doz of what I think of as fake-friendlys. Maybe it shouldn't, but they really bug me.

Occasionally, when busy unloading the cart or scanning my shopping list for the next stop's items, I might not notice the person that stepped in line behind me had fewer items. They strike up a conversation, I quickly see their item amount and offer them first check out. A simple thank you in return is nice, but then I don't give the matter another thought. The fake-friendlys though, then feel compelled to share that "I only struck up a conversation with you hoping you would let me go ahead of you in line." In return for my gesture they want to shame me for being distracted and inform me that I would have been beneath a few sentences worth of chit-chat, except they wanted a favor? Oh, that makes me cringe! Please, if I am too distracted to notice your plight, just ask to cut in front. And let that last tidbit of info remain your little secret.

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Congratulations on your upcoming 49th anniversary, pattico! I have always favored yellow roses, too.

I found you after not having read Kitchen Table for quite some time---it was a truly touching moment to receive such a beautiful rose and the thought behind it warms hearts:) Perhaps a little change of topic, but I would love to hear about areas (towns ,etc) where people smile and greet each other on the street as a normal occurance . My husband and I have looked for a number of years and found the island of Chincoteague, Va to be such a spot (hence my change of screen name). It seems that in so many towns (my own hometown included) people no longer have a spirit of openness in which kindness and courtesy grow.

I'm sorry--looks as if Houzz retained my old name after all. I thought it had been changed to Chincolover...ah, techology

Oh how sweet of that man. I'll bet you smile every time you look at your rose. Thanks for sharing this with us. We all need a bit of sunshine....thanks for providing it.

Hopefully the boys will spread the word, there really are nice grown-ups in this world.

such a great story and I hope you (which just from by your post..I know you will) pay it forward!!