"Curbside Service" by From the editor | The Pilot: Southern Pines, NC

Curbside Service

June 27, 2012

I was in Betsy's Crepes this morning meeting someone for breakfast, and I was early. While I sat at my table thumbing through my phone, an elderly gentleman, cane in hand, gingerly stepped in and made his way to a table.

Owner Betsy Markey walked over to him, greeted him warmly and asked the man how his morning was. He said it was OK, but he bemoaned the fact that he'd left his newspaper in the car. It was clear, given how he labored to get in, that he wasn't about to go back and get it. For him, breakfast was going to be sans paper.

"Where's your car?" Betsy asked. "I'll go get it."

"Really?" the man asked. He was agog at the notion someone would do that for him -- for anyone. He had said earlier this was his first time in the place, so he was no regular.

"Sure, " Betsy said. "No problem. Where's your car?"

Once he got over his surprise, he directed her to a nearby Toyota and said she'd find the paper in the back seat. Thirty seconds later, she was back with his newspaper.

"Did you lock it back up?" he asked.

"I sure did," she said. The gentleman was grateful and thanked her, stunned by what a stranger had done for him.

So with my vegetarian crepe this morning, I also got to witness a heaping helping of southern hospitality and genuine kindness. One more reason why I love this place and why I keep going back to Betsy's Crepes.