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Went out to dinner last night, and I paid for the table next to me - Pay It Forward

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Metro Life Homes RS-78439 / BRE #01708344

Went out to dinner last night, and I paid for the table next to me - Pay It Forward

I am playing in a tennis tournament this weekend, and I won my doubles quarterfinal match yesterday.

I was starving after the match, so I decided to go to one of my favorite places to eat that I haven't been to in a while because it's not close to where I live now, but it was close to the tournament site.

Ceasar's Mongolian Barbecue.  If you've never been to a Mongolian Barbecue, you HAVE to try it.  You step up to a bar with all kinds of veggies, thinly sliced meats and sauces, put it in your bowl and hand it to the chef who gives it a quick stir-fry on a huge 4-foot diameter flat "wok", then gives it back to you in a clean plate.  Yum!  I usually end up seriously overeating at this place since it's all you can eat.

Anyway, I was eating my meal, and I noticed a family of four sitting at the table next to me.  They seemed like a nice bunch.  Call me crazy, and I'm not sure why but something told me these people could stand to have something nice be done for them.

I called the waitress over and asked her to bring me their bill, and that I would like to pay it for them.  So I paid their bill and mine, and gave the waitress a cash tip.

On my way out, I asked the waitress to give them the bill (not the credit card receipt) showing it was paid, and I wrote on the back of one of my cards and attached it to the bill - "Do something nice for someone in the next week.  Pay It Forward.  All the best, Ralph"

Comments(9)

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

That's neat....best part is not waiting around for the accolades..true paying it forward. My husband always pays for our service men and women when he sees them. We always try and duck out a bit too...I think the card is a nice touch, letting them know it doesn't stop with us.

Apr 24, 2011 04:58 AM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Ralph, you are such a rare guy. No kidding. How kind of you and I know they were blown away by your random act of kindness!

Apr 24, 2011 04:58 AM
Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

That is so neat Ralph. I am sure th family was very appreciative for that, probably blew them away.

Apr 24, 2011 05:00 AM
Dennis Duvernay Broker/Owner
Hillview Realty - Northbridge, MA

That is simply super....someone special will be watching over you....I am sure they feel great because I feel real good just reading this.

Apr 24, 2011 05:02 AM
Kathy Denworth
BHHS Keys Real Estate - Islamorada, FL
Realtor in the Florida Keys, Islamorada, Key Largo

That is so sweet. I was craving a pizza one day and was by myself. I ate what I wanted and gave the rest to three young men that were sharing a pizza. Young men can ALWAYS eat more pizza. They really appreciated it.

Apr 24, 2011 05:05 AM
Mary Lockman
Windermere Real Estate Methow Valley - Winthrop, WA
Methow Valley Real Estate

I did something similar and took all the folks who worked on Earth Day barrels to lunch, they did not know it was on me, and everyone was arguing about who would pay but I had given my card to the owner before we sat down, and out negotiated them.  Now I have lunch dates all year long as everyone wants to pay it forward.  That was not my intention however.

My folks had this happen and they are still talking about it, it just absolutely made their day.

Apr 24, 2011 05:11 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Ralph.  That was so incredibly nice of you.  Sends chills up my spine.  This is the spirit of pay it forward.  Thanks for showing us the true meaning!!!!

Apr 24, 2011 06:03 AM
Brin Realty Associates Team At Bean Group
Bean Group | Brin Realty Associates - Amherst, NH
Amherst NH homes and Southern NH real estate

Oh man Ralph, what a great thing to do...sad part is you didn't get to see their reaction, but you can imagine it...they'll be talking about that for a week and hopefully will pay it forward to someone else...this is one of my favorites in the Pay it Forward deparment.

Apr 24, 2011 08:35 AM
Cindy Marchant
Keller Williams Indy NE 317-290-7775 www.marchantteam.com - Carmel, IN
"Cindy in Indy" , Realtor, Fishers Real Estate

Love love love that pay it forward.  I did that once in a Dairy Queen line, but the person behind me only ordered two cones!  lol  Later though, I met that gal because she is also a REALTOR; she thought it was pretty cool!

Apr 24, 2011 09:33 AM