Lessons from breakfast

This morning I went to McDonalds.

I know, I know. Ill save you the trouble: SHAME ON YOU!

It was freaking freezing outside and I wanted a coffee. I get there and order a hot chocolate instead. And a hash brown. It was calling my name. I even called Alicia in the drive through and tattled on myself to her voicemail. It didn’t make me change my mind, I still wanted it.

Confessions feel good though.

While I am sitting there in the drive lane I notice a guy walking, with a backpack on, and he kept looking behind him. I honestly thought he was casing a car in the parking lot. Just then, a dog rounded the corner and I realized he was just watching him come around.

It was obvious that this man, and his dog, were homeless.

I drive around the building. The man and his dog are no longer in sight. As I get to the window around the other side, they hand me my receipt and I realize they charged me for the wrong meal. It was in my favor, so I didn’t really care, but didn’t want to end up with a burrito and a cinnamon roll.  That person was piling on more calories then I was. The lady leaves, comes back, they are all frantic about what to do since its been ‘cashed out’. I said, its not a big deal. Its in my favor, if you want to leave it, that’s fine, I just want the right food.

Apparently that’s a suggestion they can work with.

They tell me to pull up to the next window. I am still wondering if the people behind me paid for my extra 84cents. They give me the right food and I drive out of McDonald’s and into the parking lot of the store next to it to turn around. I am through the store parking lot and I cannot get the guy out of my head.

Why I am even thinking about this guy is beyond me. He wasn’t begging for food, he was just walking. Everyone has a right to walk.

I get almost to the other side to the parking lot and I turn around. You have to listen to your conscious when it talks to you. I drive back to McDonald’s. I have to do a loop around so I am not driving the wrong way. The man is now sitting in the parking lot, out of the way towards the back, on the ground.

His dog is with him. Its a rottweiler.

I pull up right into the space next to him and hop out of the car.

“Would you like breakfast?” I said.

He looked at me like I was crazy. Then he said yes. That he really would. I cant tell if he believes me.

I told him I would be back and  run around the building and inside. I ordered 2 meals, one of steak and bagel and some other crap, and one with sausage and egg and other crap. I added a large coffee and a water.

I came back out and gave the meals to him. His dog was wagging his tail when he saw me. I don’t think a rottweiler has ever wagged his tail at me before.

He said to me “I don’t know what made you turn around”.

Pause.

How did this guy know I left and turned around?

I said “Because everyone deserves to be helped and everyone deserves breakfast. I am blessed. I hope you enjoy your breakfast.”

I then reached out my hand and shook his.

I gave the dog a little pat and said “sweet, baby” and walked back to my truck.

As I got in, I saw my hash brown. The one I ordered but didn’t need. I grabbed it and got out and gave it to him. He said “Are you sure?”

And I said “Trust me, I don’t need it. You need it. This hash brown gave me a reason to come back.”

I got in the car and drove home.

Now I am sitting here sipping my hot chocolate.

100 calories lighter with no hashbrown, but somehow…. just as full.