I used to turn pennies heads up, so it would be perceived as lucky by its next passerby. I learned it from a movie.
I stopped looking down and taking the time to change someone’s luck. Now, I don’t think of luck as being good or bad. I see it as kindness being repaid.
I bought two tickets for my husband and me to see my young cousin play Babette in Beauty and the Beast. We were packed and ready to visit family out of state. Since my husband would be driving, he decided not to go. I invited family members who lived near the theater and friends who lived near me. Everyone I invited had other plans.
When I arrived at the theater, I asked another cousin if I could donate my extra ticket. She took me to the ticket booth and explained my situation. The woman at the ticket booth said it would be exciting to see who sits next to me.
As I read the program, an older man approached me.
“Are you the nice girl who angel-donated this ticket?”
I looked up and smiled. “Are you Row-S, Seat 19?”
“Yeah!”
“I guess I am.”
He told me that he lives across the street from the performing arts center. When he saw a lot of vehicles entering the parking lot, he came to see what was happening. He thanked me for the ticket and said I chose good seats. I told him he was welcome and I was glad the ticket didn’t go to waste.
He sat down in Row-S, seat 20 and said he didn’t want to crowd me. No one claimed that seat. It worked. He told me he once gave away six tickets to teenagers. He paid it forward.
Before the show started and during intermission, the man asked if he could get me a drink or snack from concessions. My stomach gurgled, but I kindly declined.
The multi-talented actress playing Lumiere sold raffle tickets during intermission. The sales supported the facility. Thankfully, I had cash for toll roads. I took out a dollar and bought a ticket. When the man returned, he asked what the ticket was for. I told him the money would be used to purchase equipment for performances.
“I hope you win. You have good karma coming.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
The winning numbers were far from the ones on my raffle ticket. It didn’t bother me. I stuck my ticket in my purse and waited for the second act. The musical was fantastic. My beautiful, talented cousin had an awesome presence on the stage. Her personality shined through in her character.
The performance was on a Friday night. Although my eyelids were heavy by the end of the show, I was glad to see my cousin on stage. I took pictures with some of the cast members, called my mom, and stayed with her. I didn’t feel safe traveling 50+ miles home. My mom gave me the perfect amount of food to settle my stomach. I had no trouble falling asleep or staying asleep that night.
The next day, Chris and I were in the car, heading to see family. We pulled up to a toll booth.
The toll booth attendee gestured to the white Volkswagen ahead of us. “Do you know that guy?”
“No.”
“Well, he just paid your toll.”
“Very nice. Thank you.” My husband and I both smiled.
The man in the booth seemed tickled by it too.
I told Chris, I gave away his ticket last night. The driver who paid our toll was my good karma. I texted my cousin who helped me donate my ticket. I told her about the random act of kindness. She replied, “Life is full of happy surprises!”
Indeed, it is.