more than a quarter

it began as a simple trip to Aldi
a chance to spend time with Ruth and the kids
an opportunity to purchase good food at great prices
if you've never been and decide to go, 
take a quarter for the grocery cart
when my kids were young we shopped there weekly
I had to keep track of who's turn it was to put the quarter in
today I forgot to make sure I had one
thankfully Ruth had an extra-
but when I looked at the date I said "I can't use this"
it was her birth year
so she gave me the one she was going to use
it was a "state quarter"
couldn't use that either because Bill collected them
I scrambled and found one buried in my purse

I had to take a picture before we went in

as we walked to the entrance a man was returning his cart
I asked if he wanted to trade
-my quarter for his cart-
he said; "no, it's on me, have a great day"
and he smiled and waved as he walked away in the rain

tears threatened
I didn't know what to attribute them to:
his gentle spirit and kindness?
the quarters?
maybe the rain that had been falling steadily?

at Aldi when the cashier rings up your groceries they don't go in "your cart"
they are put in the cart the person before you used
when I returned the carts our purchases had been loaded into
you know I had to investigate the quarters that we got back
I smiled as I saw another state quarter and one of the boys' birth years

triggers are tricky like that
sometimes they bring tears
sometimes the same ones bring smiles