It’s been a rough year, so I take every moment of joy and kindness with a little extra heart these days.

A few weeks ago an innocent conversation at work turned into one of my favorite stories ever.

An older gentleman came to my window to transact his bank business. We made the common small talk, but then he took notice of my necklace. It’s nothing elaborate, just a moon-wrapped pentacle pendant–that I wear simultaneously with a Mickey Mouse pendant.

He paused in our conversation and said, “Your necklace reminds me of a book series I just read. It was very good, I enjoyed it a lot. Now what was it?”

As he pondered, I finished his transaction.

Then he had his epiphany. “Oh, yes! The Hunger Games! Have you read it? It’s really good.”

Call me sexist and ageist, but I was surprised when he announced he’d just read a YA series…but I brushed off my non-PC moment and smiled. I nodded and replied. “Oh yes, I have heard of it, many of my friends have read it, but I haven’t read them myself yet.”

“Oh, you should! I tell you what–I’ll bring in my copies, and you read them.” At my initial protest he held up his hand. “No, really. The only thing I ask is that once you’ve read them, you pass them on to someone else to read. Books are meant to be shared.”

He left and I thought little about it again…until I got to work the next week, and the whole series was awaiting me in my station.

So now, I’ve moved these to the top of my list…because such a gesture must be met with enthusiasm.

And thus, I am now (finally?) reading The Hunger Games.