Author: /u/tudor_diva

Our family had our Easter dinner at Cleburne Cafeteria yesterday afternoon. We arrived early to eat, at 4:30, so my mother-in-law could accommodate her diabetes management dietary schedule. The line was very long, but moving, and people were friendly and in good spirits. This is one of her absolute favorite places to eat and we’ve not been since the beginning of the pandemic to avoid exposure for her which would be detrimental given her myriad of chronic health issues. Then last week we received the worst news one who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer can receive. Our time with her is very limited. She chose to eat here, perhaps for the last time, because of how much and how long she has love this place. I don’t know if someone saw all seven of us waiting in line together and her obvious condition (what with her fashionable turban covering up her hairless head and her lack of eyebrows), or if they overheard us chatting in the line with others around us, but when our group arrived at the cashier to check out and pay we were told that our family’s meal had been paid for, along with the meals of a few other families, by someone in line ahead of us. I just barely caught what the cashier was saying, but I heard a figure somewhere around $800 for the total (not just our family, but for all meals that were being covered). I just wanted to put out into the universe a sincere and heartfelt thank you to the kind and generous soul who paid for our, and several other people’s, meals. Going through what will be one of the most difficult experiences of our lives, this kindness helped make what may be her last outing there a more meaningful and joyful experience. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. There are some wonderful people out there in the world and I am grateful for them.