I was still flowing along towards Charlottesville (that appears to always be “about 5 miles up ahead” no matter who I ask or when) and was getting kind of thirsty when an IHOP rolled into view on my side of the road. I entered, told the hostess what I was up to, and asked if I could have a drink of water and sit there and rest a bit while I drank the same. She called her manager over, who was more than skeptical at first, to say the least. In fact, she was still in the process debating as to whether or not to allow such a haggard vagabond to hang out at all in her restaurant’s waiting area when customers Charlotte & Cheri (who were in the process of departing) overhead the whole conversation and immediately offered to treat me to a weird* but nonetheless wonderful pancake breakfast …

*The generosity of Charlotte & Cheri aside, this was one of the oddest and least pleasant breakfast of the entire pilgrimage, with the hostess refusing to even remotely hide her displeasure at me being allowed to eat there at all, with my poor (and obviously new on the job) waitress looking like she was on the verge of tears the entire time, and the food being quite obviously prepared with anything other than love. That said, gratitude is most powerful when given in moments least warranted, and I made sure to sincerely thank them all and effusively wish them well as I returned to my journey and The Road …

“Every smallest act of kindness reverberates across great distances and incredible spans of time –affecting countless lives unknown to the one whose generous spirit was the source of this grandest of echos. Because kindness is inevitably (even if only subconsciously) passed on once given and because it grows each time it is forwarded, even a simple courtesy can morph into act of selfless potency – albeit often years later, and often far away … So do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my proffered Commandments; for an extended length of days and large swath of peaceful years will they bring to you. In essence, never let kindness or truth leave your side; wrap them both gently around your shoulders, write them indelibly on the tablet of your heart, boom them forth in your whispered words of caring, and let them shine forth from your every selfless deed.” ~ inspired by Dean Koontz

Filed under: Peace Pilgrimage #02: Walking HOME (2019) by Scaughdt