My wife, Pat, had made a trip to Cosco to pick up a few items she needed. Like many people, we shop at Costco because the prices are good, and the quality is excellent. The only downside is that many items are packaged as multiples, making them heavy and hard to lift. Costco employees are trained to take care of their customers, though, so help is generally available.

On this particular day, the store was very busy, and staff members were running to keep up. Pat was in the health drink section looking at the Boost and Ensure displays. I’m probably the luckiest guy in town because Pat makes me a Boost smoothie or an Ensure smoothie for breakfast. This trip she had selected a carton of 30 bottles of Ensure and that made for a pretty heavy package.

I should note that Pat is 87 years old and arthritis has affected her hands to the point that she has little dexterity.

As she fumbled around trying to pick up the box, a blonde-headed guy shopping next to her noticed her predicament and said, “Let me help you with that!” She watched as the guy easily picked up the box and placed it in her shopping cart. She thanked him and headed for the checkout counter.

Pat paid for the groceries, went outside, and found the van. She placed all of the small items in the van and was struggling to place the box of Ensure in the vehicle.  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a big truck loaded with construction equipment coming down the aisle. The truck pulled up behind her stopped, and a black man swung down from the cab and said, “Let me help you with that!” She thanked him and watched as he easily picked up the box and placed it in the van for her. Pat asked, “Did you just stop for me?” The man said, “I know that some things are hard for older people, so I lend a hand when I can.”

What a great day! Two good men in the same day. Gentlemen!

Dave Thomas

June 19, 2025