A Pompano at the Door: A Morning I Will Never Forget
This morning began like any other, until it didn’t.
When I opened my door this morning, there was a package waiting for me. Inside: a perfectly fried pompano, steaming white rice, and bok choy. No note. No name. Just one of my favorite fish dishes, prepared with care and intention.
For a moment, I simply stood there, surprised and a little puzzled. I called the front desk to ask if I had a visitor earlier that morning. They checked. No record. No outside guest. No delivery log.
That’s when a quiet realization settled in: this had to be an inside job.
As I prepared to head over to Newton’s Restaurant for my take-home brunch buffet, my mind was already full, wondering who would know my love for pompano, and who would take the time to do something so thoughtful without seeking credit. Gratitude and curiosity followed me as I stood in line, packing my brunch containers.
And then, one of those moments that stays with you.
Just as I finished filling my first dish, a voice behind me asked softly:
“Did you like the pompano?”
I turned around, and there she was, Martha Rodriguez, one of my favorite servers here at The Heritage Downtown.
I didn’t hesitate. I hugged her and thanked her profusely. The mystery was solved, but the meaning of the moment only deepened.
Martha told me that pompano is her daughter’s favorite fish, and when she bought one for her family, she decided to purchase an extra, for me. No announcement. No expectation. Just a simple, generous act of kindness.
In all my years of living, writing, and observing human nature, I have learned this:
True kindness is almost always quiet.
This was not about the fish, though it was delicious.
It was about being seen. Remembered. Thought of.
Acts like this remind me why The Heritage Downtown, Walnut Creek, is not just where I live, it is home. This is an active senior living community, yes, but more importantly, it is a place where the kitchen staff, servers, and support teams bring their humanity to work every single day.
To Martha, and to all the kitchen and serving crew at THD: thank you.
Thank you for the meals, the smiles, the conversations, and the countless small kindnesses that often go unnoticed, but never unfelt.
This one, I will never forget. And Martha, once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Tears of Joy, I am feeling now, as I write this posting. Below are articles, I have written and experience the Act of Kindness I have received from Friends and Strangers!
My Articles Related to the Act of Kindness and Pompano:
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