Dear Karma,

I have thought about you many times during the years. I have even blogged about you, remember my post about the mean bully girls in high school that now break mirrors simply by passing them? Yes, I have always believed in you Karma. And I know you can’t be everywhere, every time, for everyone. A lot of people do great things in this world and aren't able to meet you.

On Friday morning, as I was going about my business, running errands all morning hoping to get back home to meet my oven repair man, I hardly gave you a thought.

While I was in line at Publix, checking out, you were the furthest thing from my mind. I was thinking: Gosh, I should have got the special milk for Patrick and Uncle Jim..what am I going to cook for dinner on Saturday? Do I have sour cream at home for the mashed potatoes? Does Taylor Swift have to be on the cover of every magazine?

Suddenly, I snapped out of my thoughts and noticed the nice lady in front of me. She and I ran into each other twice during my shopping that morning, the first time as we walked into the store together, she gave me a nice smile. I noticed the little toddler with her, he was cute, fair haired and smiling. We had our 2nd run-in as she was trying to come out of an isle, and I was turning into this same isle, with all the displays on both sides, we had no room. I quickly retreated backwards and we both giggled…I realized this was not the isle I wanted anyway and I told her ”I really don’t know where I am going”..she smiled and laughed politely. She appeared to be Spanish, but understood my English well.

I noticed in the check out line, that while we had both been shopping the same amount of time, I clearly had a FULL cart, hers was nearly empty. She had a 12 pack of generic soda, a case of water, some rice, a few pieces of fruit and a quart of milk. I was loading up all my stuff on the conveyor belt while she was paying. I heard the cashier say in the nicest voice: “Your card is not going through. Do you have cash or a check?” I looked up just in time to see the look of horror on her face. She started digging in her purse. A moment or two passed and she started counting cash. She had very little. She had no check book. The line behind me was getting longer and my heart was getting heavier. I quickly dug into my wallet, so thankful to find a 20 dollar bill. (I never know what I may find in there) I discreetly asked the cashier if this would cover her bill and handed her my 20. The lady looked at me, and her eyes started to well up. She said: No, I will put something back..I think I have money in the car… It is ok.

I told her it was fine, I did not mind at all. She could not even talk anymore, she just came to me and gave me a big hug and a thank you…she stammered that she would go to her car and look for money, I told her NO, this is what I want to do today and that I don’t mind. She was in tears. Of course, I am the sissy girl, I cry at everything anyway and seeing her upset made me tear up too. She thanked me again and left the store. I received change from the cashier, and thought for a second that I should also give this to my friend in need…for you should never be left with NO cash. (although I am cashless some of the time)

The cashier told me how nice that was of me, as well as the very patient gentleman behind me. I did not need them to tell me, all I had to do was look into this mother’s eyes and see her thankfulness.

But Karma, my dear friend, I know you were there. I felt you when I left the store, when I loaded all my goodies in the car and when I unloaded them at home. I felt you even more when my oven repair man was actually able to repair my oven that very day. That I did not have to wait on ‘special order’ parts, or even worse, order a new oven. Thank you Karma. You are my bestie. You have made my Thanksgiving.

Who would have imagined that 9.00 could make someone’s day. I would be glad to do it again, and for now on, I will make sure I always have a little bit of cash on hand…you just never know when it can make a difference in someone's day.