Nostalgia brought me to the Whippi-Dip in Norton Shores, Michigan. Being a family of eight who often brought friends on our vacations, we may have only stopped once or twice for ice cream, but the Whippi-Dip remains a landmark for my family. We often stayed at PJ Hoffmaster State Park and Maranatha Bible Conference nearby and had to pass the iconic shop to get there.

So, on my trip north, I camped at the state park and rode my road bike for a picture. From the parking lot, I sent a group text so my siblings could join me on my trip down memory lane. Then I noticed a tiny shop to the side with beach towels, sunglasses, floatation devices, lawn chairs and more. As I walked through the open doors, Mark greeted me with a smile and his story.

He has been the owner of the ice cream shop for 29 years. Ten years ago he turned the storage shed into an opportunity for additional income. Mark said he is priming his son to take over the business so he can travel more to Central and South America to fish, dive, and relax.

I asked if he had any beach chairs. He had sold out. Just the day before I had wished I had one to make reading on the beach easier and had looked at two stores to no avail.

He paused. “Oh wait. I have a couple over here that got left outside. Can’t sell them because they are rusting. You can have them if you want them,” he said, picking up a chair outside his shop.

“Are you sure?”

Within the hour I was back with my hybrid bike with a rack on the back. Strapping them on my bike didn’t work so he made a strap out of my bungie cords, helped me swing it over my shoulder and I was off with a gift from a man I will always remember for his generosity—for an unexpected gift.

Have you ever received an unexpected gift? Please share your story.

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Joy M. Walker