[IrishLake]

I'm all about karma and paying it forward. I've been through some very troubling times in my life, and people I never expected to do something nice for me did amazing things.

When I was working in downtown Cinci, there were always homeless people panhandling. I'd give change if I had it. One freezing December day though, I walked to Quiznos to get some lunch. I bought my meal, and was walking back to work when I passed a homeless woman sitting on a decorative planter near the road, and I could tell she was freezing and she was sobbing her eyes out. I passed her, and couldn't live with myself. Turned around, went back and asked her if she was ok. She said "No. I came up here to live with my boyfriend I met online. He kicked me out, and I don't have anything anymore. He's gone, and took my stuff with him. I'm from Florida and I don't know what to do, and my family there hates me." So I offered to buy her lunch. I went back into Quiznos, bought a giant sub, 2 bags of chips, a pepsi and a bowl of soup and took it all to her. Then I offered her my cell phone so she could maybe call soemone in Florida who might care enough to help her get back home. She called her dad, and I guess he started crying and he said he'd find a way to get up to Cinci and find her. Could have all been a show, but I didn't give her any money, just food and a phone call. She was so greatful. What killed me was she said "I've been sitting out here crying for 2 hours, and no one has even so much as looked at me, let alone stopped to talk to me. Thank you."

Another time I took my kids to the Newport Aquarium. I had 2 coupons for "Buy one adult admission, get 2 kids in free." Well I was only using one coupon, so I gave the other to an elderly couple behind me who were taking their 2 grandkids in. They were shocked I had just saved them like $40.