compliment at the grocery store

I had noticed the woman earlier during my shopping at Publix.

At first, I had thought she and I might be shopping for the same things: milk, cheese, pizza, packaged chopped salad kits.

As it turned out, she was working up the courage to talk to me.

"What beautiful hair you have," she told me, "so thick and long".

She told me that she has thyroid disease, as do I, but her hairline had receded badly and her scalp showed through her thinning hair.

I could recognize that she had once had a flowing mane, like mine, until the chemical imbalance had made hers fall out.

I cautioned her about washing her hair too often - "I only wash mine once a month," I told her - and perhaps she will consider that course of action.

How fortunate I am that my doctor checks my TSH level every six months to make sure my Synthroid dosage stays current.

i thank You, God, for the VA...

and for the kindness of a stranger in the grocery store.