At the End, We Look for Those We Love

When I arrived at the Walgreens near my house a few weeks ago, their computers were down.

"Just so you know, our systems are down, so we can't sell anything right now," the young woman at the cash register announced when I walked in.

"Ohhh, that's a problem for me," I replied, more concerned than annoyed.

I stepped over to the photo desk, where I was told the same news.

"That's a problem because I am here to pick up just one photo. And I am taking it to a friend who is on hopsice. I am not sure how much longer he has."

"What's the name?" The manager asked, as he continued poking at the uncooperative computer screen.

"Riecke, it'll be under my wife's name, Kristen Riecke."

"Here you go, you can just have it, then." He held the envelope across the counter, even though I had made no payment.

"Thank you, that means a lot to me," I replied.

I visited my friend and gave him the photo in a frame.

The photo was taken at his ordination service, in our hospital chapel, with his family and colleagues looking on.

The photo included our hospital president and CEO from Parkview Health, Mike--whom we all loved--another beloved colleague, Jon Swanson, me and a few others.

But, who caught this friend's eye as he looked at the picture of this precious moment in his life?

"Look honey, there's [our son]. And [our daughter]," he said as he pointed out his children, not the CEO, me (his former leader) or our other colleague.

It reminded me that, even if we become friends with the most powerful person at our large health system, and even if that person is truly amazing and supportive, at the end... we look for those we love.

Those who are closest--family and friends.

My former colleague put the framed photo next to his chair, and looked at it with love.

On my way back home, I stopped again at the Walgreens store.

The young woman said, "Back again?"

"Yes," I replied, "I need to say thank you."

With the photo envelope in hand, I offered to pay for the photo, now that their computers were working normally.

"No need, I already cleared it out," said the manager, still at the photo booth.

"Well, I need you to know what that meant to me, and to my friend..."

So, I told him the story.

We smiled the way that sad people smile when something truly good happens.

Over the weekend, I heard that the friend I visited had died.

I will miss him, his kindness, and his presence.

And I am all the more thankful for that small act of kindness from a manager at Walgreens that day.

#kindness