Happy Days and Forward Pays

On Wednesday mornings my daughter and I go for breakfast together....before we head off to school (for her) and work (for me). It used to be a Tuesday morning ritual, until something wonderful changed that for us.

A few months ago I could not make our usual Tuesday morning breakfast and had to reschedule with my girl for the following morning - Wednesday.

We walked into the breakfast place that Wednesday morning, and ordered our usual breakfast. Muffin and tea for me and full breakfast for my 'could eat ya out of house & home' girl.

Standing behind us in the line-up was an older gentleman. I had noticed him standing there but thought nothing of it.

Just as our order was being rang through, the older gentleman moved forward with a $20 and said to us, "breakfast is on me". My mouth dropped open as I looked as this man...totally protesting.."No sir that's ok..REALLY"...but the cashier took his money and just smiled. He took his change and his coffee (the workers had already poured for him) and he went to take a seat.

Feeling a little odd by the whole thing and trying to silence the STRANGER alert that was ringing in my head...the girl behind the counter said..."it's ok...that's just Jake, he does this every Wednesday morning and you just happened to be the lucky recipent today".

Still shocked, I asked a little more and she proceeded to tell me that Jake comes into the restaurant every Wednesday. Whoever is in front of him in the line-up gets their order paid in full. "He is such a nice man," the girl said.

By the time our order was ready the STRANGER alert had silenced, and instead I was filled with a WOW, what a wonderful person he must be.

My girl and I took our tray and made our way to a seat.

But both of us were pre-occupied with this wonderful man who had just made our day.

He sat their all alone, his wrinkled shaky hands wrapped around his coffee cup, as he looked out the window.

My daughter and I looked at each other and without saying a word we just knew what the other was thinking. We made our way over to the table and asked if we could sit with him. His face lit up.. he said, "Of course, I would be delighted".

The next 45 minutes was filled with non-stop conversation.

Apparently Jake lost his wife a couple of years ago. His wife was very active in the community and always believed firmly in the concept of paying forward.

He said, "whenever something good happened in our lives, she would always say "Jake we gotta pay this forward".

He said, when she died I was very bitter at first, but after a few months I realized that I had over 50 years with an amazing woman. I have alot to be grateful for and alot of "paying it forward" to do. Her and I came here every Wednesday morning. It was her favorite time of the week.

I still come every Wednesday morning. And in her honor I buy breakfast for the person in front of me-- pay it forward, you know, and he laughed.

I swallowed the lump as I listened to him talk.

Before we knew it it was time to leave.

I thanked Jake for breakfast and promised to meet him there again sometime.

The next Wednesday morning...my daughter and I waited in the car until he arrived. When we saw him walk inside we raced in. We were now behind him. So, we did our own "pay it forward" and paid for his coffee. His face lit up!!!

We now meet Jake every Wednesday morning. 

Little did we know just how much a free breakfast could actually be worth.