• Gift Of Bagels Lifts Gloom Of Worries
    10 replies, posted
[release] [sub][sub]By THERESE GUNDERSEN The Hartford Courant (Local Newspaper) [/sub][/sub] It was a pleasant day, sunny with a bright blue sky, but a dark cloud hung over my head. That cloud was filled with concerns about unemployment, bills, children and health, mixed with uncertainty and fear. Like many, I was preoccupied with my here and now. But my cloud of concern was about to dissipate, even if just for a short time. Incredibly, a visit to the local bagel shop was the eye-opening event for me and my family. It lifted our spirits and lightened our steps. It has reminded us of the joy in simple pleasures. As Aesop of fable fame said, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." On that afternoon, my husband, eldest son and I were running errands near our favorite bagel shop. We decided that some fresh bagels would be tasty. But as we entered the shop, we noticed that all the bagel bins were empty. With a sigh, I asked, "Do you have any bagels left?" The bagel man looked at me and with a small smile said, "I have a few more in the back. What kind do you want?" With two teenage sons, anything goes. "I'll take a dozen," I replied. "Plain, onion, everything, sesame … anything you have." The bagel man walked through the doorway to the back of the shop. We heard the rustling of a paper bag. After a few minutes, he returned. "I still had a few," he said with that same grin. The bag he carried looked full. Fantastic! We were having bagels tonight. He gestured to our son to take the bag. Our son smiled at the bagels peeking out of the top of the bag. We paid for the bagels, thanked the man and left the shop. As we walked back to the car, our son said, "This bag is filled to the top. I can't even count how many are in there." "It's probably around 13 bagels," I said. "That shop gives a 'baker's dozen.'" "It looks like a lot more than that," he said. The scent of warm bagels filled the car. We fought the temptation to eat one as we drove. I could imagine the bagels with the tomato-lentil soup I had planned for dinner. I try to make our meals healthy, sometimes to my family's displeasure. They would definitely think the bagels were the best part of our meal. When we got home, our son emptied the bag onto the counter and began counting. He counted them once, then twice, then a third time. A baker's dozen? No, there were 29 bagels! I was shocked. He had to tell me the number twice. Our younger son got caught up in the excitement and summed it up in one word, "Sweet!" We enjoyed bagels that night with our soup. But that was just the beginning. We had bagels with butter, bagels with butter and jelly, bagels with cream cheese, bagel breakfast sandwiches of eggs and cheese, toasted bagels with cinnamon sugar and plain bagels on the run. We enjoyed bagels for breakfast, bagels for lunch, bagels for snack and bagels with dinner. We were in bagel heaven. Our family often talks about the kindness of the bagel man. He generously gave us much more than what we paid for, more than what we expected and more than just bagels. Kindness, hope and joy emerged from inside that bag of bagels. The bagel man refreshed our belief in kindheartedness. He reminded us to be kind without expecting recognition or praise and that we can touch others with simple acts of compassion. Whenever I am in the area of the bagel shop, I will buy bagels. I don't expect to ever have a bag of 29 bagels again, but any bagel man who generously surprises a customer with so many extra bagels deserves my business. Each visit will remind me of our joy. There is kindness and generosity out there, even in these difficult times. You may only need to recognize it, and if you can't find it, then create it yourself. [/release] [URL="http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-gundersen-bagels-a-spiritual-life-ring-0303-20120303,0,7129051.story"]Source.[/URL]
Gotta love these small acts of kindness. They're what keep us together.
Not really news. Still, [B][U]bagels[/U][/B].
Bagels are delicious.
Woman in first world country received extra bagels, world is now fine.
When I'm home I work at a bagel place in CT, I wonder if it happened at this one? They do give bakers dozens. It's a pretty decent job, free food and drinks and I mostly just make sandwiches for people.
Bagels + Bacon? :v:
I fucking love bagels. Finally some news that suits me.
Bagels are often overpriced anyway. At least for the quality of bread you're getting.
I once had a bagel with sun-dried tomatoes and Mediterranean spices and all that. If it was possible, I would've jizzed myself at the first bite.
[QUOTE=tepholman;34993615]Woman in first world country received extra bagels, world is now fine.[/QUOTE] On the one hand: Yep. On the other hand: Small things make the world better, if you ask me. I don't see anything wrong with being kind and generous to other people, even though they've got enough. While we are able to make other people's life a misery, we are also able to make it a good life. Why being unkind and selfish, while you're able to be a good person, benefiting other ones? I don't mean absolute selfless, but sometimes it's just a small step to make things better. I don't see anything wrong with it.
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