Dan/Xmas 1st post

"You made my heart smile"

I have my favorites everywhere I go. At Beth Isreal, it's Dan. Dan has stage four melanoma. He comes into the hospital three times a week for treatment. His right arm was removed this past year because of a tumor. He is still the nicest, sweetest person you'll ever meet. He is never without a smile on his face and he is an absolute inspiration. He was named Saucony's "Man of the Year" this year and ran the Boston city marathon, despite his condition.
***
The door opened around 9:45. I was in the back preparing the deposit. "Karen is in the back," I heard Dave say. I never particularly enjoy hearing my name said when I'm dealing with a large amount of cash, so I poked my head around the corner to see if "the kids" needed anything.
"Did I hear my name?" I ask. I see Dan and his friend and immediately I run over to the safe to set it so I can put the deposit away and finish it later. It's Saturday and I have all the time in the world to get it done. Besides, I would drop everything even on a busy day for Dan.
"Hello, handsome!" I yell. I refer to Dan as handsome because I learned, after the first time I said it, that it makes him smile like a schoolboy and blush. He smiles and perks up, giving me a little wave.
I walk over to my register and ask his friend, whose name I don't know because I'm too busy gushing over Dan to even pay attention to anyone else. Truth be told, the store could be on fire and if Dan was there, I wouldn't notice. "How are you doing?" I ask. He nods, which means he's having a bad day. He asks me how I am and I realize that his voice is very hoarse. Now I really know that he's having a bad day. Whenever he can't talk very well, it means he's having a rough day.
"Add shot for a red eye, please," I say to Cassie. She is busy making a mess of epoc proportions, so I walk over to the bar with Dan's coffee in hand, drop the shot, carefully place the lid on, and walk it back to my register.
"Anything else today, handsome?" He peers into the pastry case and I see him eyeing a cranberry bliss bar. I grab the tongs, give them a little tap together, which is my universal signal for "What can I get you from the case?" and slide the right door open. Thud. It taps against the opposite side of the case. I reach inside, grab the biggest cranberry bliss piece I can find and put it in a bag. "Will this do?" I ask. He smiles and nods. I place it on the counter, slide it towards him and proceed to ring it into the register. I discount everything. I could technically lose my job for this, but I don't care. I'm the boss today, so if anyone is going to reprimand me, it's going to be me.
"Your coffee is on me today," I say. I look up and he's beaming.
"How come?" he asks.
"Because you're my favorite! And I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true."
"You just made my heart smile," he says. He puts his hand over his heart and I can feel the lump in my throat forming. I dig my fingernails into my khakis and swallow it down. I refuse to allow the tears to well up in my eyes. This is a man who is dying and I made his heart smile with coffee. I am officially touched. "You're very special. Thank you."
He walks over to the condiment bar to add the milk and sugar to his coffee. I let out a sigh and head back into the office to finish the deposit. I take a little trip to the bank, drop it in the night box, and head over to CVS to buy Cassie and Dave some treats for working so well with me this morning. I grab some candy canes, hershey kisses, and marshmallow santas. I get back to the 'Bucks and throw my apron on, walk out onto the floor, and send Dave on his last ten. I see Dan and his friend through the plexiglass window sitting at one of the tables. I give him a wave and make a heart sign with my two index fingers and point to him and wink. He smiles and laughs. I get a kick out of this every time.
I begin fiddling around with the brewers, cleaning as I go. Dan walks over to the counter.
"You don't know what you did for me today. You made my day. Thank you so much. You really don't understand how special you made me feel." Once again, I feel the lump begin to rise. I allow the tears to fill my eyes this time, but I won't let them fall. His voice is so hoarse that I lean close to him so I can hear what he's saying.
"Dan, you make my day every time you come in here. I have to tell you though, I'm leaving next Saturday and going to a different store." He looks shocked and says, "I'll see you Wednesday."
This may be the last Christmas Dan ever sees and that makes my heart absolutely ache. I've been crying all day just thinking about it. This is not a customer. He is a customer, but he has touched my life. I'm going to ask Dan to sign my sneakers for me on Wednesday and I'm going to wear that pair in the next marathon I run. It was just a cup of coffee out of Starbucks' profits, but it made Dan's day. What else could I ask for? That, my friend, is gratification.

Dan, you make my heart smile.

Read about Dan's story here:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bostonmarathon/4382203/detail.html