An alert “06880” reader who wishes to remain anonymous writes:
I just came from Crossroads Hardware, where I enriched their coffers by buying a $1.49 light bulb.
As I checked out, AJ Izzo — the store’s major domo — asked if I liked tomatoes.
“Of course,” I said.
He dug into a large shopping bag, then filled a smaller brown paper bag with 6 fresh garden-grown tomatoes just given to him by a customer.
A simple, almost trivial story — but a touching reminder of the generosity and thoughtfulness of homegrown store owners from our not-too-recent past, who treated every customer as family.
While there, I forgot to purchase a 19-cent washer. I look forward to my next visit.
Maybe AJ will be giving away some basil or olive oil.
The actual tomatoes, given away at Crossroads Hardware.