Tara Wood picked up her daughter, Norah, from pre-school on her fourth birthday and the pair went to a local grocery store to get cupcakes for dessert. While there, the 40-year-old mom was mortified when her daughter saw an elderly man, stood up in the shopping cart and called him “old” while declaring it was her birthday.
The man’s stony expression had Tara fearing the worst, and she quickly apologized for her daughter’s outburst. Instead of being angry, the man smiled at Norah and asked her old she was. The man and the little girl had a lively discussion for a few minutes before saying goodbye. A short time later, Norah asked her mother to take a photo of her and the man, who had introduced himself as Dan. After finding him a few aisles away, Tara took out her phone and snapped a few shots. In one of them, Norah kissed Dan’s hand. He thanked her and told her it was the nicest thing that had happened in a long time.
Tara shared the story on her Facebook page, which was shared and liked by many people. One reader contacted her, told her Dan’s surname and said his wife had died a few months prior, leaving him sad and lonely. Tara asked for his phone number and called him the next day. Dan invited the pair for a visit.
They spent three hours with Dan, who lit up when he saw Norah and did not mind her noise and activity. He made her lunch and gave her a red rose, with all the thorns carefully trimmed away, when she left. Even though the flower eventually dried out, Norah decided to keep it in a sandwich bag under her pillow.
Norah has visited Dan several times since. He said spending time with the little girl brought joy back into his life and helped him sleep soundly again. Dan will also be spending Thanksgiving with Norah and her family this year. The sweet four-year-old is a testament to the power of love.
