A Timbit of a Carleton Place Tale by Joanne McCoy
There are always good things that happen in Carleton Place. After I wrote my last story about the old location, local resident Joanne McCoy had another story to tell. Here it is..
Linda, I have an awesome story for you about that Tim’s location. It was a particularly difficult time in my life. I was questioning my worth etc….a somewhat wah wah nobody loves me time.
I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for my step son. It was a super cold and snowy day, and I had just finished rummaging through my purse and all the usual hiding places for loose change for a hot coffee. Great, I don’t even have money on me to buy a coffee! Well, I look up and there’s a very old man, very small stature, all bundled up with a heavy backpack on his back, digging through the garbage can.
I sat watching him for a minute or two, thinking how I wished I had money to buy him a cup of coffee. Alas, I just verified my lack of funds. I leaned over and lo and behold there was a five dollar bill sticking out of the ashtray plain as day….hmmmm.
I got out of the car and approached the man, I put my hand on his shoulder and asked him if I could buy him a cup of coffee. He looked me right in the eye. I will never forget his face, especially his pretty piercing, watery blue eyes. He gave me a smile and said “I would love that”. I asked what he wanted and he replies, “Oh just a small coffee dear”.
I then told him, ”
“You can get a large if you want and can I buy you a sandwich or something to eat?”
He agreed to a donut, nothing too sweet, and I handed it to him, and left the change on top of his coffee cup. He held my hand, stared deeply into my eyes, thanked me and his eyes welled up with tears.
To this day, I feel that it was divine intervention. I went back into Tim’s after a few minutes, he wasn’t there, so I asked the ladies at the counter. They all agreed none of them had seen anyone of that description in there all day. After that mysterious encounter I felt better, I felt appreciated and valued. I sensed also that he was grateful that I physically touched him, and also, the fact that I had never seen him before that day or since.
Another tale from the old Tim Horton’s location– if you have anymore please let me know.
Carleton Place- The Happiest Damn Town in Lanark County
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Tilting the Kilt, Vintage Whispers from Carleton Place by Linda Seccaspina is available at Wisteria at 62 Bridge Street, the Carleton Place Beckwith Museum in Carleton Place, Ontario and The Mississippi Valley Textile Mill in Almonte. available on all Amazon sites (Canada, US, Europe) and Barnes and Noble
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