The rumors had been spreading for months but it still came as a shock when the hospital would be closing.
The
rumors
had
been
spreading
for
months
but
it
still
came
as
a
shock
when
the
hospital
would
be
closing
.
It had served this poor neighborhood for nearly 100 years but it would close because of the health care crisis.
It
had
served
this
poor
neighborhood
for
nearly
100
years
but
it
would
close
because
of
the
health
care
crisis
.
The day after the announcement co-workers found out that pretzels had been eliminated.
The
day
after
the
announcement
co-workers
found
out
that
pretzels
had
been
eliminated
.
Soft pretzels are the lifeblood of this city.
Soft
pretzels
are
the
lifeblood
of
this
city
.
So losing access to soft pretzels is no small matter.
So
losing
access
to
soft
pretzels
is
no
small
matter
.
A week later, I decided to cheer up my co-workers by picking up some soft pretzels at a local store.
A
week
later
,
I
decided
to
cheer
up
my
co-workers
by
picking
up
some
soft
pretzels
at
a
local
store
.
I arrived just as it opened so I was the only customer.
I
arrived
just
as
it
opened
so
I
was
the
only
customer
.
But I only had $6 in my wallet.
But
I
only
had
$
6
in
my
wallet
.
I was working inside a large office at the hospital and knew I'd need more than the half dozen pretzels my six dollars would buy.
I
was
working
inside
a
large
office
at
the
hospital
and
knew
I
'd
need
more
than
the
half
dozen
pretzels
my
six
dollars
would
buy
.
A man's voice interrupted my thoughts.
A
man
's
voice
interrupted
my
thoughts
.
"Can I help you?"
``
Can
I
help
you
?
''
I said, "I only have $6.
I
said
,
``
I
only
have
$
6
.
I'm not sure how many pretzels I need.
I
'm
not
sure
how
many
pretzels
I
need
.
You see, I work at a hospital and it's closing and they stopped selling pretzels."
You
see
,
I
work
at
a
hospital
and
it
's
closing
and
they
stopped
selling
pretzels
.
''
The man's smile disappeared.
The
man
's
smile
disappeared
.
"What hospital?"
``
What
hospital
?
''
"Oh, Northeastern Hospital."
``
Oh
,
Northeastern
Hospital
.
''
The guy looked deeply shocked.
The
guy
looked
deeply
shocked
.
"I used to sell medical supplies and that was one of my hospitals."
``
I
used
to
sell
medical
supplies
and
that
was
one
of
my
hospitals
.
''
Then he turned around and grabbed a box of 25 pretzels and slid them across the counter.
Then
he
turned
around
and
grabbed
a
box
of
25
pretzels
and
slid
them
across
the
counter
.
I was surprised by his generosity and started to reach for my wallet, "Oh I can pay.
I
was
surprised
by
his
generosity
and
started
to
reach
for
my
wallet
,
``
Oh
I
can
pay
.
Please let me ..." The guy smiled, "Just tell them Joe Sullivan said to do something nice for someone else."
Please
let
me
...
''
The
guy
smiled
,
``
Just
tell
them
Joe
Sullivan
said
to
do
something
nice
for
someone
else
.
''
And so that day everyone in medical records was treated to a soft pretzel.
And
so
that
day
everyone
in
medical
records
was
treated
to
a
soft
pretzel
.
Word spread fast as people came asking, "Is it really true?"
Word
spread
fast
as
people
came
asking
,
``
Is
it
really
true
?
''
It was as if I'd carried in a box of gold.
It
was
as
if
I
'd
carried
in
a
box
of
gold
.
It mattered to them that a stranger cared.
It
mattered
to
them
that
a
stranger
cared
.
The rumors had been spreading for months but it still came as a shock when the hospital would be closing. It had served this poor neighborhood for nearly 100 years but it would close because of the health care crisis.  The day after the announcement co-workers found out that pretzels had been eliminated. Soft pretzels are the lifeblood of this city. So losing access to soft pretzels is no small matter.  A week later, I decided to cheer up my co-workers by picking up some soft pretzels at a local store. I arrived just as it opened so I was the only customer. But I only had $6 in my wallet. I was working inside a large office at the hospital and knew I'd need more than the half dozen pretzels my six dollars would buy. A man's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Can I help you?"  I said, "I only have $6. I'm not sure how many pretzels I need. You see, I work at a hospital and it's closing and they stopped selling pretzels." The man's smile disappeared. "What hospital?" "Oh, Northeastern Hospital."  The guy looked deeply shocked. "I used to sell medical supplies and that was one of my hospitals." Then he turned around and grabbed a box of 25 pretzels and slid them across the counter.  I was surprised by his generosity and started to reach for my wallet, "Oh I can pay. Please let me ..." The guy smiled, "Just tell them Joe Sullivan said to do something nice for someone else."  And so that day everyone in medical records was treated to a soft pretzel. Word spread fast as people came asking, "Is it really true?" It was as if I'd carried in a box of gold. It mattered to them that a stranger cared.