By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
Occasionally, when my wife is out with her Pickleball friends, I find myself dining alone.
It’s a time I enjoy, offering me a moment to think and indulge in a quiet meal. I marvel at
the diversity of people who choose to assemble at this place and time–from the young
to the old, couples dining together and families with kids coloring on menus, all laughing
and enjoying themselves. People from all walks of life, with different cultures, races, and
economic status just wanting to end the day with a pleasant meal and some
Conversation.
This evening, it was in Denny’s Restaurant on Emily Drive in Clarksburg. I was seated in
a booth and the waitress had brought me my coffee and ice water and while waiting, I
scrolled through Facebook for updates—anything from news about Taylor Swift to a
teenager taking a selfie atop a skyscraper. In short order, my “French Toast Slam”
arrived, and I put down my phone and focused on my food.
Out the window, I saw two state troopers get out of their car and head in the door to be
seated for dinner. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of the troopers approach a
booth and hug a young child. Initially, I thought it might be his son or a relative, but It
turned out the three boys had simply stood up to greet the uniformed troopers. The
trooper picked up the oldest boy and gave him a hug as the boy pointed at his shiny
badge, while the two youngest boys had engaged the other trooper by asking him
where he kept his handcuffs.
I began eating while the troopers spent time with the wide-eyed young boys and was so
impressed with these two public servants. I’m sure they were hungry, but the younger
trooper went out to his car and brought in some stickers for each of the boys. As the
father of a policeman, I know what these two troopers encounter on a daily basis and
this act of kindness brought a tear to my eye.
Each day we face division, hatred, and intolerance, I am humbled by the quality of men
and women that choose to serve the public without fear or favor. I am sure that these
three young boys left the restaurant thinking that one day they might like to pin on a
shiny badge and put some handcuffs on some “bad guys”. I left the restaurant moved,
more aware of the simple acts that can affirm our shared humanity.
As I put on my hat and walked over to pay, I realized that I was meant to be there at that
moment. Though I hadn’t sat with them, it was an honor to pick up their check. Walking
outside, the world seemed just a little brighter than when I had arrived.