r/MadeMeSmile • u/nun_CARTII • Aug 23 '26

Good Vibes the value of being kind

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For nearly seven years, waitress Melina Salazar showed extraordinary patience and kindness to Walter “Buck” Swords, a notoriously difficult customer at Luby’s Cafeteria in Brownsville, Texas.

The 89-year-old WWII veteran frequently complained, cursed at staff, demanded piping-hot meals and never left a tip. Despite this, Melina continued serving him with compassion.

After Walter died in 2007, Melina received an incredible surprise. He had left her $50,000 and his 2000 Buick in his will as a heartfelt thank-you for her unwavering kindness.

A powerful reminder that kindness can touch people more deeply than we realize.

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u/Icelandia2112 Aug 23 '26

Exactly. Seven years of abuse and biting her tongue to keep her job is not heartwarming.

He could have kept his shit car and money and just been a decent human.

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u/Special_Spirit8284 Aug 23 '26

Is there any confirmation of why he left the money? Maybe he felt remorseful and left that as an apology. Obviously it's better to be kind but some people for some reason just couldn't express it and feel regrets later.

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u/TheAserghui Aug 23 '26

He was a WW2 vet. If I had to guess:

He was alone, friends and wife have passed on, his kids don't visit, and getting out of the house to eat at the diner was the size of his social circle.

Being a WW2 vet, he probably buried his memories and emotions from the war, so he had the privilege of unresolved trauma do to cultural norms/stigmas.

Ms. Salazar was probably the highlight of his day, but he was unable to communicate it.

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22424002

I'd say this is a great example of being kind to others, because we don't always know what they are dealing with on the inside

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u/size_matters_not Aug 23 '26

Counterpoint: He was just a giant arsehole.

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u/TheAserghui Aug 23 '26

Occam's Razor cuts both ways

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u/Beautiful_Bag6707 Aug 23 '26

Counterpoint: people can be giant arseholes and more!

We are not just one thing.

Judging, labeling, and writing people off based on a single characteristic is stereotyping, prejudice and bigotry.

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u/Caradin Aug 23 '26

Goddamn right

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u/FureiousPhalanges Aug 23 '26

So if for example that one characteristic was they're a massive racist, I'd be stereotyping and bigoted for writing them off?