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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Kind (10/17/24)
Happy Number Forty


“Ouch”, I wince, pulling my blue Lilly Pulitzer shirt over my head. I gingerly touch the

small raised scar on my left side, a tender reminder of the surgery I had endured three weeks earlier.

I had been feeling nauseous every morning for months and exhausted even after a full night's sleep and I had lost

twenty pounds due to loss of appetite. I was just going through the motions at work as well. No longer having interest in my

career as a high school counselor, I soon neglected scheduling group sessions, as frequent doctor appointments and CT scans

occupied my troubled mind. I felt extremely nervous, especially while waiting for the biopsy report to come back.

Upon reading the report from the online “My Chart” application, I cried bitterly.

“No! This can’t be true,” but I knew it was the verdict I had feared—a carcinoid neuroendocrine tumor in my left lung had lit up

like a Fourth of July sparkler. To make matters worse, my sister, Kay, had almost died from radiation poisoning after undergoing

treatment for her own small cell lung cancer months previous to my diagnosis. I was filled with dread but with much

apprehension, I contacted Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Cooper assured me that my surgery would be robotic assisted and non-

invasive and that I would be able to leave the hospital cancer free.

Although surgery was scheduled for July 2nd, my husband and my fortieth wedding anniversary, I decided to go ahead and

get it over with. With God as the healer of my wounds, I soon felt the light of recovery strengthen me daily.

“I will finally get to celebrate properly,” I think, brushing my long blonde hair. I grab my pink Kate Spade crossbody purse and

head for the car where my husband, Robby, is fidgeting with the radio dials, trying to locate the local Christian broadcast we

both love. “ You look beautiful,” he beams and hugs me lovingly before starting the engine to his late model Lexus LC Hybrid.

We are soon seated at an outside table at Doc Ford’s Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. It’s an unusually

cool summer evening in Florida with a gentle breeze softly kissing my smiling lips, whispering that everything was going to be

alright. My husband shifts slightly in his seat and grins boyishly, revealing straight teeth, whiter than the ivory gulls that flutter

around, scavenging crumbs dropped by hungry diners. I bite into my mahi taco expectantly, savoring the first tasty morsel.

“This is so good!” I declare happily to Robby, who is devouring his blackened grouper with gusto.

“I can’t believe you ate both of your tacos and all of your coleslaw Noelle,” Robby observes.

“Yes,” I agree while shaking my head “no” at his mention of ordering dessert, “I’m as full as a tick.”

When asked by our waiter how our meal is we both exclaim, “Delicious!” in unison. Laughing I add, “These are the best mahi

tacos I’ve ever eaten. You know we normally go to the restaurant down the road but I declare that from now on Doc Fords is my

favorite restaurant.” My husband goes on talking to the waiter, filling him in on my recent ordeal, much to my embarrassment. I

sit quietly and listen, secretly wanting to kick him under the table. I give him a subtle look to stop divulging the grisly details to

this stranger but he is too busy disclosing my private health issues to notice.

I’m relieved when the waiter leaves but puzzled when he returns soon with the check in his hand. “We don’t do this often,” he

announces, “but every once in a while we liketo show a random act of kindness to a customer with a complimentary meal so

there will be no charge for your dinner tonight.”

We are flabbergasted at this blessing and I am instantly overcome to tears with this unexpected thoughtfulness. After

thanking our host profusely, I leave the largest tip on the table I have ever provided, encouraged to make it my goal to be gentle

and kind like Jesus Christ.

“A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.” (Proverbs 11:16—NIV)

True Story
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Marlene Custer 
10/26/24
Thank you for sharing your story. I was a little distracted at first by all the paragraphs. I hope you will continue to enjoy good health, and keep writing.
Catherine Green 
10/27/24
Firstly, it’s good practice to only finish a paragraph with a full stop and not to let a sentence run on to the next paragraph as it makes it difficult to read and maintain flow.
Secondly I thought you wrote this so beautifully from the heart, with sensitivity and candour. You have a lovely way with words. Bless you as you continue to write.
GiGi Mezzio 
10/31/24
I am sorry about the formatting. I have a new MacBook Air and am having problems getting used to it after working my entire career using a DELL. I am trying and thank you ever so much for your encouragement.