Honor those who served

I got a call from George yesterday asking if I wanted to meet him at home for lunch because he had dome work to do. I agreed and quickly ran to the commissary (post grocery store open only to military families and retirees) to pick up some microwave meals (I LOVE Lean Cusines). After getting the stuff for lunch and some added items for last night's dinner party, I jumped in the express line, really not in a rush because work was slow at the office.
At the cashier was an elderly gentleman who instantly reminded me of my great-grandfather who passed away a few years ago, and there were two ladies in line after him.
Not being in a hurry, I was zoning out while waiting in line and found it comical when I noticed the two ladies impatiently shuffling their items waiting for the gentleman to finihs. After a few minutes, my curiosty got to me why we weren't ovind and this is what I witnessed:

Cashier: "Sir, I need more money."

Elderly gentleman, as he pulled a orange medicine bottle out of his pocket and dumped change onto the counter: "I have some here."

Cashier, after counting change: "Sir, there is not enough. We need more."

Gentleman, kind of confused: "I gave it all to you."

Cashier: "But it's not enough sir. There is only $5 here."

Gentleman, looking flustered and nervous: "Can I bring you more later?"

Cashier: "No, sir. You have to put stuff back."

As he began to shuffle through his bags of instant noodles and soup, I walked forward and asked the cashier how much she needed. "Don't worry," she said. "He'll put stuff back."

"It's not a problem," I said. "Just tell me what you need."

"His total is $10.13, but he only has $5," she said. So I opened my purse and gave her $7 telling her to give the bagger the change as a tip. The gentleman turned and thanked me, smiling for the first time. The ladies behind him began saying they were sorry and would have helped if they had noticed.

As I got back in my place in line, I hoped that someone would help my grandfather if he needed it. When my turn came to pay for my groceries, the cashier said he came in each week to get his groceries for the week, but that he had recently been diagnozed with Alzheimers (sp?). I couldn't help but think that $7 for me is lunch at the deli, but it was a week's worth of groceries for this veteran. Being the end of the month, money is surely tight in many households, but to his it was truly the difference between eating or starving.

He had done his duty to this country, the least I could do was help him in his time of need. I think his smile will stay with me a while and serve as a reminder of how important it is to remember our veterans, even after they leave the service.