Hey, You!

I was the person about to give a $10 bill to the wheelchair-bound woman who sells pens at the local grocery store. I've spent more money on chocolate before. Just as I was coming out the door toward her, wallet in hand, you got there a fraction of a second before me—in fact, we nearly collided. I deferred, and you went first. Then you did something wonderful. You took the woman by the hand, told her your name, and spoke to her for a few seconds in the kindest and most direct and unpatronizing way, bought your pen and left. You treated the woman as a human being, an equal, and she responded to you with happiness and a smile. Even though I frequently stop, I haven't always been entirely comfortable in knowing what to say to her, especially since this woman is barely able to make a sound. So for the first time, I stopped for a moment and let her know I was happy to see her, too. I don't even really remember what you look like, but thanks for brightening up more than one person's day.

Send anonymous thanks, confessions or accusations—changing or deleting the names of the guilty and innocent—to "Hey, You!" c/o OC Weekly, 1666 N. Main St., Ste. 500, Santa Ana, CA 92701-7417, or e-mail us at letters@ocweekly.com.