No, this isn’t a sponsored post.
It’s not really even about Hamburger Helper.
But who can resist this little guy?
(source)
Let’s start at the beginning.
The other day Ruth and I were at the grocery store. I needed to grab a few things for dinner, it was getting late in the evening, and I had a hungry family. So as I’m whisking up and down the aisles systematically gathering the items on my list I came to a halt.
There in front of the tomatoes was an older gentleman reading something on his phone.
I needed some tomatoes and this guys was not budging.
Ruth is in the cart fussing and I’m ready to go.
Why won’t this guy quit playing around on his phone and move out of the way?
Finally I say “Excuse me, can I just sneak past you and grab some tomatoes?”
“Sure” he says absent mindedly.
And I swoop in there and pile up the tomatoes.
Then as I’m turning to go he asks if I know how to make Beef Stroganoff.
What?
Beef Stroganoff…do I know how to make Beef Stroganoff?
Ummmm…no.
Well, does it have sour cream?
I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve ever had it before. But that sounds reasonable enough.
Ok.
Then he proceeds to tell me how his wife used to make it and he’d sure like some but doesn’t know how she made it…he’s been there googling it on his phone but the pictures don’t look like what she cooked…and he could swear it came out of a box.
Oh.
I’m sorry. I really don’t know anything about Beef Stroganoff. Good luck with your hamburger and sour cream!
Thanks…it can’t be too bad…it’s hamburger and sour cream…right?
Right!
…right…..
…as I continue zooming up and down the aisles I can’t stop thinking about that guy, who could have been my dad, that night eating hamburger mixed with sour cream.
First of all—how nasty is that going to be? And second of all, I couldn’t deal, it made me too sad. It just kept nagging at me…if that was my dad I’d want someone to make sure he ate better than the mess he was going to go home and invent.
Beef Stroganoff….Beef Stroganoff…Beef Stroganoff…
It doesn’t even sound like something I’d ever make…what the heck is it?
How can I help someone make something I’ve never even seen before?
And then I turn the corner and see a giant display of Hamburger Helper that was featuring nothing other than their 2 different Beef Stroganoff flavors!
Eureka!
It’s freaking Beef Stroganoff in a box!!!
Now I’ve got to find that guy again!
Where the heck is he?
If I was going fast before it was nothing to how quickly the wheels on the cart were spinning then but I couldn’t find him anywhere.
Ack!
What if he’s already on his way home to make that terrible meal????
Wait, no!
I know where he is!
And there he was…picking out sour cream.
Hey, Mr Beef Stroganoff!
Yes?
I know what your wife did—she made Hamburger Helper!
YES!!! That’s it! That’s exactly what she made.
And then he said the most sincere thank you I’d heard in a long time, and I knew he meant it.
As I walked back up to the front of the store to pay for my groceries I started to think about what just happened. Why did I feel like I HAD TO HELP that man? Why did I feel so happy after I did? And how could a lousy box of Hamburger Helper make some guys night?
When I got home I started talking to my husband about it.
He thinks it’s just human nature—to see someone in need and feel compelled to help them. Maybe he’s right, but I didn’t see anyone else running around the store like they were on Supermarket Sweep to make sure that he didn’t eat cra-zapple for dinner.
Then I thought…maybe it’s because strangers have done nice things for me….the guy at Wal-Mart who let me go ahead of him in line when my baby was crying…the lady at the gas station who paid for my drink because it looked like I was having a bad day…or the guy at the fair who gave us a handful of tickets for us to use with our kids…
I have a hundred stories like that…I know what it feels like…and those small acts of kindness have, very literally, changed the course of my day.
I really believe that one kind act, no matter how small can transform a person…even if only for a moment.
I am sad that Skirting the Issue is coming to a close this year. Through out the month I’ve been lucky enough to hear from women working to transform the lives of other through their goodness. I love this project. I love seeing what you do. I love hearing your stories. The more kindness we can deliver into the world the better. Thank you to all of you out there doing the all the small things that make such a big difference.
-liZ
you two are just about the kindest, most caring girls ever!
I was feeling so sad as I read this, thank you for helping this gentleman. He could be my dad or yours and realizing that he was lost and needed some help, despite your harried schedule shows your true inner beauty. I am always thankful when I can find a kindred spirit, I am that girl that has a heart for friends I haven’t met yet.
I got tears in my eyes. Thanks for helping that man ,he will had a lovely meal thanks to you.
Greetings from Belgium , Martine
I got a little teary on this one too! I just love this story. And I did want to point out that you are — all of us are — welcome to “skirt the issue” all year round!
Also, sour cream and hamburger (plus pasta) do make a great beef stroganoff. I know it sounds gross, but it’s delicious. Seriously!
That is a sad and sweet story at the same time. If it were my dad, I’d be so grateful that you helped him.
I would have had that same urge–to run around feeling like I had to find him and figure it out. There was an older man in the grocery that I ran into two weeks in a row. He was shopping for a shelter from his list. He needed some inexpensive cornbread–I suggested Jiffy:) He couldn’t reach the shelf so I assisted, helped with a few other items and was on my way. The next week I saw him and immediately asked if he needed my help. It felt great to offer. Besides, he was the one buying for the shelter–not me! How often do we get these chances? I remember while living in VA an elder man and his wife with Alzheimer’s had car trouble as we left the library. We offered them a ride home. The woman repeated to my daughter how pretty her shoes were over and over. When I got them home he offered me ten dollars. You know how some people won’t take no for an answer. But I had to tell an elder “NO, it is not often I get the chance to help someone” with tears in my eyes, he finally gave up. I wish there were more moments like this. PS–I do make beef stroganoff–each year for my husband’s birthday. It is a chore!
I think it’s important to set that example for our kids. 🙂
Oh, and I tried to make beef stroganoff once. The recipe was very simple…I messed it up royally. #totallycantcook
My husbands grandmother had Alzheimer’s and just passed away Monday morning.. This made me think of grandpa. How it could easily have been him in need of someone’s kindness. So thank you. You just never know when your one small act can mean the world to someone else.
Tuesday would have been their 63rd wedding anniversary.
This is a lovely story and a great lesson for us all. I found it very moving. I was also a bit taken aback by the idea of beef stroganoff out of a box!!! Sounds horrible. Beef stroganoff is made with thin strips of rump or similar
This is why I read your blog daily (I have oodles of others I love to read but lately have been so busy etc). I never know what to expect but always come away feeling blessed or encouraged or motivated to do something (sew, craft, pay attention to others in the store).
I’m sure that Hamburger Helper took him to a place of fond memories and brought him comfort way beyond his stomach. After one of my sons grew up and moved out he once commented that he wished he had some of my “good Hamburger Helper”. Now most kids think about made from scratch cookies or cake or even home made….whatever, but as true testament to my (limited) cooking skills, mine dreamed of out of the box Hamburger Helper.
I never knew! Seriously…if it’s not Tex-Mex, Mexican, or Italian food I have no idea how to make it!
-liZ
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been following your blog for over a year now, just starting last year as you did the Skirting the Issue. I’ve not participated yet, but I have made dresses for little girls in Haiti. My sister and brother-in-law go there twice a year on medical missionaries with their church. They love the children, who have very little in worldly goods. I only got seven dresses made for their trip in July, but plan to make more before their next trip in February. I don’t seem to be able to do much at a time (physical and mental handicaps), but I get done what I can. I feel that I should be able to do more, but my mind and body just don’t co-operate. Your post made me realize that any done is better than none, so I’ll just keep going. Thank you again, blessed be, hugs!!! Pam
pamspretties57 at gmail dot com
you’re the best.
I know this isn’t the point of the post, but I just want to tell you that the fact that you references Supermarket Sweep makes me love you even more.
Hey liZ,
I know, it may mean nothing, you have so many followers who adore your work… but I really just need to let you now how much I love the way you’re writing and the things you write about. I don’t have that much time at the moment to read the blogs I love, but every few weeks I have this moment where I need to get some contact to the world outside. And this blog is first one I go to, knowing there will be something that makes me feel sad or happy or something in-between. This post brought me to tears, thinking of this old man who lost his wife, trying to find something that makes him feel like she’s still there… this is so sad, I can’t think of anything else for a few hours now 🙁
Ok, anyway. Just keep on writing this kind of stories… that’s all I wanted to say.
Heidi from Germany