an old man asked for a pound of espresso beans, ground

an old man asked for a pound of espresso beans, ground. i smiled and said, "sure! $10.66, please."
he put his hand in his pocket, as if to draw out his wallet. but then he froze. he stayed that way for a long while. i busied myself for a while to give him time.
when i returned, he was still frozen there, beginning to look a little panicked. he mumbled, "i've got to solve the problem of this pocket. this is a problem."
i asked him, "what's the problem with the pocket?"
"i can't get my wallet out."
"oh. why not?"
he lifted his hand to show me, "i have a crippled hand. my wife put my wallet in the pocket for me."

he just kept standing there, grasping the wallet and worrying about how to proceed. so i offered to get the wallet out of his pocket for him, if it wouldn't be too weird. he agreed, so i ran around the counter, and in front of the lengthening line of customers, fished the pocket out. i tried my hardest not to touch him the wrong way and not to jostle him. (the pocket area is a very personal area!!!)

anyway, i still think about him, about the choice he had to make there in the starbucks. cancel the order/refuse to admit that you are less capable than you once were? or accept an offer of help, submit yourself to the care of younger, stronger hands in front of all the watching people.

i thought we both handled the situation well--calmly and without embarassment.