To the Editor,
I would like to share an experience I had at the bottle depot.
I was taking my bottles in for a refund recently and thought I would use the money to save up for a special pair of shoes I liked. I knew it would take me a long time but I looked at it as a fun project.
As I took my place in line, a middle-aged man gave me a big smile and stood behind me with one dented 7-Up can in his hand. I took my refund of $2.80 and as I walked out the door I heard the clerk say to him, "here’s your 10 cents for the pop can.”
For some reason that response really resonated with me. I stopped outside and when this man came out I turned around and said to him, “I think you need this more than I do” and gave him the money. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and he just smiled at me.
As I got into my car, I felt so good. I was on cloud nine all day! I still see his smile from time to time when I think about this. It made me realize how little it can take to make somebody’s day and how profound a smile can be to someone.
Now when I cash in my bottles I look around the bottle depot to see who else can use this money.
Dianne Bodnar,
Port Alberni
