Beautiful moments all around us

Inge Blignaut of Northcliff writes:

There are beautiful moments waiting to be discovered every day – even in a little old office at your local Engen.

I was late for work on 26 March because I was part of an impromptu birthday celebration for Piet, a deaf petrol attendant working at the Engen at Northcliff Corner.

When I stopped to fill up, Piet was there.

I rolled down my window and was ready to write R200 on the slip because that’s how Piet takes the petrol orders. I saw that he had written the word birthday on his slip.

I tried to to wish him a happy birthday using my own made-up sign language. It sucked. But he laughed.

Then as Piet was filling my tank, I broke out in a cold sweat realising that I didn’t have any cash on me. How was I going to give Piet a lekker birthday tip?

I paid with my card and then just drove off. Piet thought I had just left. I actually parked next to the shop to buy him some sweeties, something that I couldn’t explain to Piet because I didn’t know how.

When I came out looking for Piet he was gone. So I asked a bunch of other petrol attendants who were standing around outside a little office where Piet was.

They moved aside and inside the office was birthday boy with a small Pick&Pay cake on his lap. My timing was just right as we all started singing a very happy birthday song (making up the sign language as I went along).

I have attached a picture and just wanted to share this amazingly awesome moment with you guys.