It played like a scene from a holiday movie — a mystery couple, who didn’t leave their names or numbers, walked into a Philadelphia restaurant, finished their meal and then set-off a chain reaction of generosity that lasted for hours.
That’s just what employees at the Aramingo Diner in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, said a man and a woman did during their breakfast shift on a Saturday in December 2013.
“It was magical. I had tears in my eyes because it never happened before. I’ve been here for 10 years and I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Lynn, a waitress.
Lynn and other waitresses told NBC Philadelphia that the couple started the chain reaction by paying double: for their own meal and for the tab of another table of diners at the restaurant. There’s no evidence that one group of diners knew the others.
“I could not believe it … and it continued and continued, it was very nice,” said Lynn. “They asked us not to say anything until they left, but we said ‘Merry Christmas, that person picked up your tab.’”
For the next five hours, dozens of patrons got into that same holiday spirit and paid the favor forward.
The diner’s manager said not one person was concerned about price of the check — which averaged between $12-$30.
“It was a surprise to all of us, the girls were even taken aback,” said the diner Manager. “Those who took the check also tipped the waitress. So nobody had to do anything other than pass it on and that’s what they did. They just passed it forward.”
It’s a true holiday story that proves how a small gesture of kindness can create a magical chain reaction.
This happened during December a few years ago, in Philadelphia I wonder what kind of miracles will happen today!
I loved this (true) story. It shows how kindness begets kindness. As for what I can do? I just recently lent a helping hand to a very needed family by paying their past due electric bill. This act had an unexpected consequence. The mom had been out of work for some time. Another person who had heard about my kindness, offered her a reference to a job and she is now employed and on an economic mend. 🙂
What a great story Susan!
The dental office I was working in the past was near a McDonalds. Most of the days, I saw a young crippled man sitting outside McDonalds asking for change. On one colder Canadian day, I asked him, does he like to have a cap to wear. He said “ya”. I gave him a handmade pretty crochet cap. I also bought him a small coffee and a muffin from the McDonalds. There was no miracles or no pass it on anything happened, in my best knowledge. I can tell you that I was happy that he was smiling at me.
What a wonderful thing you did, Bindhurani.