A Random Act of Drive-Thru Kindness in Owensboro Made Me Feel a ‘Flurry’ of Emotions

Monday night, after playing tennis for an hour at Centre Court, I came home and made some tortellini, baked up some bread and sat down to watch the U.S. Open and enjoy a late dinner with the dogs and night matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Shortly after washing dishes and sitting back down on the couch with the dogs (Yogi, Simon and Ellie), I decided that I wanted something sweet to eat. I don't normally have a sweet tooth, but I randomly, on occasion, crave something sweet. That was certainly the case on Monday evening. Maybe it was because I burned 1000 calories in an hour playing in my Triples League. Or, maybe it's because I was giving into the temptation of stress eating.

Yes! Though you'd never know it by looking (I exercise a lot and am typically mindful of the portions I eat), I am a stress eater. I find comfort in shoveling food into my face when things aren't going well and I'm under a lot of consequent stress. I typically manage stress well, but sometimes find comfort in food. Monday night, I was craving ice cream of some sort and I narrowed down my options to restaurants close to me on the west side of town. The options- Sonic, Lic's and Big Dipper. After getting in Fred the Fusion, I quickly decided on the 'Dipper.'

I pulled up in line and had no idea what I was going to get. I ultimately decided on a Heath Flurry. My car tires ring-a-dinged that obnoxiously loud, but effective drive-thru bell. If you know, you know. I placed my order and rolled around to the window to pay. Only, when I handed over my debit card (yes, Big Dipper accepts those now), the young lady at the window said, "It's already been taken care of."

I'm THAT person. I am a person who struggles with accepting kindness.  It's not that I don't appreciate it.  I do. But, I tend to feel guilty if someone does something for me. I can never shrug the feeling that there's someone else out there who needs it more than me. That was my initial reaction as the cashier handed my card back to me.

Naturally, because I am also nosy, I asked, "Who took care of it?" I just assumed it was the person in the vehicle directly in front of me. It wasn't. The young lady said it was the person two cars ahead. By the time I got the window, that particular vehicle was long gone. I have no idea who paid for my Flurry or why they did it, but I do know this.

While I am not a person who's prone to accepting the kindness of others, Monday night's random of act of kindness hit. It hit hard. I won't go into the details, but- as Jelly Roll sings- "I Am Not Okay."

That already-paid-for Heath treat hit me with a 'flurry' of emotions and temporarily put the brakes on my personal 'struggle bus.' That selfless and very thoughtful act of kindness reminded me that Luke Bryan was likely right when he sang, "Most People Are Good."

Sometimes a 'flurry' signals the onset of a storm. That particularly flurry- complete with its delicious chunks of Heath Bar and spirit of the soul who gifted it to me- calmed mine.

To the person two cars ahead of me, thank you. Truly. Thanks so much. You didn't know it, but I needed that.