Kindness pays bar tab

Every once in a while you find a soul who believes in good karma. And you often find them in the strangest places, like bars and restaurants.

While killing time waiting for a movie to start last weekend, my lady friend and I went to Acapulco's cantina for a cocktail before the show.

While waiting for the bartender, another gentleman came and sat next to us. Before we introduced ourselves, the bartender came over and assumed all three of us were together. He took our order and I told him that I would buy the gentleman his first beer.

As we sat and enjoyed our beers, we started talking to the fellow next to us. Time ticked by and my girlfriend and I decided to have a tequila shot and offered one to our new found drinking buddy, Ashton.

Ken Hanson

One thing led to another and we ordered some appetizers. We offered to share with Ashton. When our bill came, he handed the bartender his gold credit card. Before we could even say thank you, he had the bartender charge our pitcher, shots, food and his beer to his card.

A $33 bar bill was paid for by what basically amounts to a complete stranger. All he asked is that we cover the tip. Of course that was not a problem. When we looked at his credit card receipt, we realized that he had in fact paid the entire tab.

Now I have proof that random acts of kindness do exist in the world. And sometimes they can happen to you. If you believe in karma, this may reinforce that belief. If not, just remember that what goes around comes around, and some things may be true whether you believe it or not.

I am amazed that a random act like buying some guy a beer at the local bar can bring on such generosity from a complete stranger. I know my belief in good karma was reinforced. Now, I am even more likely to be generous with complete strangers as well as my close friends. This is a perfect lesson right before the holiday season. I hope we can all learn from this.

Ken Hansen is the opinion editor for the Daily Forty-Niner.