This morning, something unexpected happened that reminded me of the power of kindness—and a little clever wit.

At 72 years old, I found myself at the McDonald’s drive-thru, taking a little time with my order. Nothing out of the ordinary—until a young woman behind me grew impatient. She honked her horn, rolled her eyes, and mouthed words of frustration.

Now, I could have let it sour my morning. But instead, I chose to take a different route. When I reached the first window, I paid for both my order and hers. The cashier must have shared the news, because when I glanced back, I saw her leaning out of her window, waving with an embarrassed smile, mouthing a quiet, “Thank you.”

But here’s the twist.

At the second window, I showed them both receipts—and took both meals. Hers included. The look on her face in the rearview mirror? Priceless. She had to go back to the end of the line and start all over.

Moral of the story?
Don’t honk at older folks. We’ve lived long enough to know how to teach a lesson—with a smile and a touch of humor.