Two Surprise Valentine Acts of Kindness
by Meri Thomason
Slightly over half of Sedona’s population is married, as reflected in the 2020 American Community Survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau, which also showed there are more women in this town than men. It’s understandable that the 9000 or so Sedona residents who responded include a lot of women who are on their own. This is a fine community in which to live independently, and there are numerous websites extolling the perks and best things about being single. However, most of us would agree that being alone on Valentine’s Day can be rough, especially for those who had a loving relationship recently end.
So it was this past Valentine’s Day. My husband and I were joined by a visiting couple and were dining at Sound Bites Grille in Sedona. Esteban was playing that night, and we asked for a table just outside that section of the restaurant so we could freely talk throughout our meal without having to shout. In fact, my husband was able to overhear voices from a table not far away and realized they were two couples we knew well, so I got up and went over to briefly say hello before returning to my seat. As I did so, I noted that a lone female diner sat at a table between ours.
Toward the end of our meal, the restaurant had cleared out quite a bit. I looked over and saw the woman was almost finished and was speaking with her waiter. Excusing myself from the table, I went to have a few words with her, for I felt a tinge of sadness at the idea of eating alone on Valentine’s Day. Well, it turned out, it wasn’t just me that felt that way!
I approached her table and inquired if her name was Eileen – a name I just picked, as I felt sure I didn’t know this woman and was only using it as an icebreaker. She said “No,” and told me her name. When I found out she was local, I asked if she thought I looked familiar – although this was not expected – and she said she might know me. I asked if, by chance, she was a member of some of the groups in which I belong – maybe she’d seen me at a meeting, but that wasn’t it. We decided I had been to one of her presentations years ago at the Sedona Public Library. THEN, she told me that her waiter had informed her that the foursome at the other table now gone, had paid for her meal. She questioned him if they had mentioned anything about knowing her; perhaps they were some of her clients? The waiter had no further information, but, upon hearing this, I was happy to tell her that I was friends with them, and was not surprised to hear they had performed this random act of kindness. She requested that I tell them how they had made her day, and how she appreciated that strangers would extend such an unexpected gesture.
I was happy to share the story at my table when I returned, which delighted our visitors. During the following week, I shared it with the women from the other table, and it made them feel wonderful to hear this unexpected end to the story of their kindness. While the diner was the only recipient, their deed and my follow up brightened the hearts of many. A wonderful Valentine!
So it was this past Valentine’s Day. My husband and I were joined by a visiting couple and were dining at Sound Bites Grille in Sedona. Esteban was playing that night, and we asked for a table just outside that section of the restaurant so we could freely talk throughout our meal without having to shout. In fact, my husband was able to overhear voices from a table not far away and realized they were two couples we knew well, so I got up and went over to briefly say hello before returning to my seat. As I did so, I noted that a lone female diner sat at a table between ours.
Toward the end of our meal, the restaurant had cleared out quite a bit. I looked over and saw the woman was almost finished and was speaking with her waiter. Excusing myself from the table, I went to have a few words with her, for I felt a tinge of sadness at the idea of eating alone on Valentine’s Day. Well, it turned out, it wasn’t just me that felt that way!
I approached her table and inquired if her name was Eileen – a name I just picked, as I felt sure I didn’t know this woman and was only using it as an icebreaker. She said “No,” and told me her name. When I found out she was local, I asked if she thought I looked familiar – although this was not expected – and she said she might know me. I asked if, by chance, she was a member of some of the groups in which I belong – maybe she’d seen me at a meeting, but that wasn’t it. We decided I had been to one of her presentations years ago at the Sedona Public Library. THEN, she told me that her waiter had informed her that the foursome at the other table now gone, had paid for her meal. She questioned him if they had mentioned anything about knowing her; perhaps they were some of her clients? The waiter had no further information, but, upon hearing this, I was happy to tell her that I was friends with them, and was not surprised to hear they had performed this random act of kindness. She requested that I tell them how they had made her day, and how she appreciated that strangers would extend such an unexpected gesture.
I was happy to share the story at my table when I returned, which delighted our visitors. During the following week, I shared it with the women from the other table, and it made them feel wonderful to hear this unexpected end to the story of their kindness. While the diner was the only recipient, their deed and my follow up brightened the hearts of many. A wonderful Valentine!