"What was the kindest thing a perfect stranger has ever done for you?"
Caseysky :
A couple of years
ago, I was returning home from a business trip. I had
just picked up my dog from a friend across town who was
"puppy sitting".
So, I had my car loaded with me, luggage, my dog Bo and all his
"stuff"
from spending a week away from home.
About 10 miles from home, my car just died. Right at the entrance
to a
major intersection. Just died. It was something electrical, so
even the
warning flashers wouldn't work. I didn't know what to do. It was
mid-summer and far too hot to leave Bo in the car, so I started
to gather
him and my purse and leave everything else locked in the car.
Just as I
was about to go searching for a phone, a car pulled up to the
intersection. I tried to wave them around, indicating my car was
disabled, but an elderly gentleman got out and asked if I needed
help.
About the same time, a truck with a younger man stopped as well.
To make a long story short, the younger man was a mechanic and
got the car
started so I could continue on my way. Now it could have ended
there, and
if it had, I would have been in a terrible fix, because about
halfway home
from there, on a dark and deserted street, the car died again.
But
luckily, the elderly man and his wife had decided to follow me
and make
sure I got home safely. When it died the second time, they simply
bundled
me, my luggage, my dog and all his stuff into the back of their
car, and
took me home.
When I asked if I could repay them in some way, they simply said
"No, we
just hope that someday, if our daughter is in trouble, somebody
helps her
the way we've helped you tonight" and drove away.
So, one dark, hot July evening, two different strangers combined
to help
me get home. Considering the distance and the obstacles I would
have had
to cross to get there, I am sure they saved me from certain
disaster. I
have never forgotten their kindness, and pass it on every chance
I get.
-=Casey=-
Aouali :
I was holding heavy
things, when a total stranger asked me to hold
them for me and he did until the home door! Actually this happens
to me more than often.
Also when I found out once that I needed 5.99FF more for paying
what I purchased in a shop, someone kindly offered to give me a
note of 5FF, after I insisted that I should not accept them he
offered me his name and address to mail him a cheque if I wanted.
But the most amazing thing was when 5 years ago I was having
heart
problem (palpitations) I was a poor student then and didn't want
to
go to a cardiologue because I had no medical mutual (the French
100%
refund-medical insurance, but one of my friend dragged me to a
specialist. Went there eventually and the doc after the
consultation
and treatment, asked me if I had a medical mutual so that I have
my
money back, but I said "no, I don't have it but I will
acquire it
when I can afford it. And guess what?! He not only didn't make me
pay the consultation (which was about 1000FF) but he filled in
the
medical refund form with a blank date and sign it so that I get
refunded when ever I got my mutual , and asked me when I get my
medical mutual and get the 100% refund to just mail him a cheque
of
what I should have paid in my consultation day. I was amazed!!
But wait, that's not all.
Eventually, I saved hard and got my medical mutual and then got
refunded for something I didn't pay, and then I emailed the
cheque to
that doc, but 3 months after I noticed that he still didn't
debited
the cheque from my account. In my next check up appointment I
asked
him if he has received the cheque, he said yes, and I said why
you
didn't debit it, he said "don't worry about it" and
after insisting
that he should be paid for his previous consultation he still
refused and offered me to use that money to pay what I have paid
for to get my medical mutual.!! WOW. So not only I got a 1000FF
specialist consultation for FREE, but also he paid for my medical
mutual. Of course you can't imagine what this mean for a poor
student as I was.
Aouali still amazed by that stranger doc
The kindest thing that a
perfect stranger did for me
happened years ago when Jeremy now 20 was just a baby.
I was working 2 jobs as a waitress and going to school
at night here in Miami. The tag was due on my car,
which at the time was a real sacrifice. There wasn't
a lot of money at that time. I had cashed both of
my pay checks and had all the cash in my wallet. I
found a parking spot behind a restaurant that was not
open yet, it was in the morning still, and they did
not open for breakfast. I walked across the street
and purchased my auto tag. Went back across the street
and got in my car. I proceeded on to the grocery store
to do some food shopping. When I went to pay for my
groceries I discovered that my wallet was gone. I
searched my car frantically, that was my rent money and food
money for two weeks. It is all that I had. I went
back to the tag agency, but they did not find my
wallet. I went home in shock. I didn't know what
I was going to do. I had no money for bills, food, rent
and I had a small baby. Not long after I got home the
phone rang. It was a busboy from the restaurant where
I had parked, saying he had my wallet, it had fallen out
in the parking lot. He said it has a lot of money in it,
shall I bring it to you. I still pray for that person.
I hope God always takes care of him, and that he gets
back a million times what he did for me.
Love Goofy
Once when I was about
twenty years old I was driving the car at night. A
gentleman who is about the age I am now pulled up next to me and
told me
that my door was ajar just a bit. I shut it and he said,
"There. Now
you will be safe."
I have always remembered that kind gesture for some reason.
Probably
because you hear all this bad stuff about attacks and such. He
was just
a really kind man. Never forgot him. Never saw him again. I'd
sure
appreciate anyone who would be this kind to my oldest son who is
21!
Keith :
We own a 10yr old ford
fairlane when it goes it goes good, when it stops its
forever. About 2 months ago we where towing a trailer full of
furniture to
our son's place on the coast. At a very busy intersection she
decided to lay
down and die. We had people abusing us all around and
semi-trailers trying
to get past on this very narrow road. A fourwheel drive past us
and the
driver past out his mobile phone out the window for us to call
road side
service. He pulled over to the other side of the road and
stopped, we
thought to wait to get his mobile phone back. But no, he reversed
into the
traffic at no small risk to himself hooked up our car and towed
us of the
road trailer and all. He would not even let us pay for the phone
calls we
made on his phone. He said he came from the country and that's
what country
folk do.
Caruso :
The kindest and most
unexpected thing a stranger did for me was done by a
group of strangers. Shortly after I started posting to AGM, a
group of
"then" strangers (now very good friends) felt I was
despondent. They
tracked me down and contacted the local police. Thank to this
group of
strangers I am here today to answer this posting.
Thank you everyone {{{{{{{{{{ AGM }}}}}}}}}}
I'll sum this one up in
as few sentences as possible.. ready??
Became my friend!
When I was a student I used to do a lot of hitch-hiking. Of
course,
every lift was a kind act by a stranger, however, there was one
occasion which was rather special.
I was hitching a lift from west of Glasgow to Edinburgh, and was
lucky
enough to get a lift all the way to Edinburgh. It was early
evening
when I arrived in Edinburgh and I was just going to catch a bus
back
to Durham (like Josh, when I went somewhere and I paid, it was
usually
by bus because it was so much cheaper than train!).
Anyway, the person who gave me the lift asked what I was doing in
Edinburgh, and when I explained I was about to leave by bus, he
told
me that I had to stay in Edinburgh at least one night to see the
place
(it was my first visit). He took me back to his house, gave me
dinner, a bed and breakfast!
I'm still amazed by it now that a total stranger who had
collected me
at the road side should have invited me into his home for a
night. It
certainly depended on BOTH of us having a lot of good faith in
each other!
After a lot of thinking I
would have to say it happened in last
November when I was going from Pete's house in Brentwood into
London
to catch a train to Sheffield to visit Juice and Sixie. Pete had
drawn me a map how to get to the Brentwood train station and as I
was
standing there, probably looking very lost, a young man came to
ask if
I needed help. I told him I was ok but he wouldn't take no for an
answer. On the train into London I found out he was from Turkey
and
was working in a kebab shop. This day was his day off so he was
going
into London to visit his sister. When we got there he grabbed my
rucksack (20k+) and dragged me through the underground back and
forth
to places he wasn't even going himself and didn't leave me until
he'd
got me to the correct station for my train to Sheffield. I was
kind
of happy he did. It saved me a bit of getting lost and stuff :)
One of the funniest
happened to me while I was shopping. I was making
my way back to the car carrying a large picture in a frame. I
could
just about get my fingers curled around the edge of the frame
with
both arm outstretched. My glasses decide to start sliding down my
nose
and were perched precariously right on the end ready to slip
right
off. With both arms stretched out around the picture, I couldn't
reach
my own nose! As I struggled vainly, a man walking up the road
from the
other direction saw my plight and casually reached out and shoved
my
glasses back up on my nose and then just carried on walking past
as
though nothing had happened!! :-) I grinned all day and I still
do
just thinking about it!
CyberInu :
I know there have been a
lot of good things but the one I remember best
was last summer. I was traveling in Costa Rica doing a biology
course
and ..well, I did the classic thing and lost all my money (and ID
and
such too, but that is a different story).. anyways I ended up in
a
tourist store in the middle of the jungle all depressed looking
at the
souvenirs I couldn't buy and glad I had money for food. The lady
in the
store started talking to me and found out the whole story...
In the end she ended up giving me a necklace with toucans on it -
really
cute. She just handed it to me. I was so amazed!!!! It totally
made my
day and feel so much better. It wasn't a big thing, but I think I
will
always remember that. :) :) :)
Ed Bell :
Only thing that really
jumps out at me right this second is that someone
returned my wallet once... I kinda sorta remember there being no
cash
missing.... very unexpected and very much appreciated.
Mine would be when I was
driving back to Michigan from Maine from
visiting my brother, a terrible winterstorm was in effect. I
could not
see in front of my car and was very frightened. A trucker noticed
my
wavering and weaving and blinked his lights for me to let him
pass me.
I thought to myself, "Oh great, all I need now is to be run
off the
road by a truck!"...and he proceeded to pass me
slowly....blinking his
lights feverishly....
He slowly got in front of me...and lo and behold-- all the snow
bypassed my windshield!! I had perfect vision due to his
ingenuity!
and he became my protector until we passed the storm some 100
miles
later.... When the snow stopped drifting heavily.....he blinked
his
lights again, honked and waved and got off on the next rest exit.
I know that trucker saved my life that night. I just know it.
Sophie :
Well...
There was a time when I was truly in need of a friend. I was at a
very
low point in my life, and am glad that I never found out what
would have
happened had I stayed alone at that point.
At a time when I was meant to be with others, I found myself
alone and
having to deal with many difficult issues. I spoke to a friend on
that
phone that evening and she heard in my voice a need. Regardless
of how
she felt, what her situation was, she went through hell and high
water to
be with me when I needed a friend...
We always say that's what friends are for...but how many people
would have
really bought a plane ticket and flew over within 8 hours?
I realize I describe this with little detail...suffice it to say,
the
kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was to live up to the
ultimate
definition of friendship.
Many years ago, when my
sons were very young, several of us Mommies
would go bowling once a week. The bowling alley had free nursery
care,
and it was a wonderful break for us. One day I took a shortcut
across
a field, only to get mired in mud...with a carfull of kids (my
four and
a friend and her 4). I walked over to the bowling alley to call
for
help, but three salesmen who were there having coffee said they'd
help.
They were in business suits, but waded out in that mud anyhow, to
push
my car out. They wouldn't accept anything more than 'thank you',
saying that they hoped someone would help their wives/children if
they
ever need it.
The ones that stand out
in my mind all involve car troubles...
out of town and at the mercy of a local mechanic or dealer, yet
treated fairly and honestly. One was in Missouri, the other in
Albuquerque,
Less serious, but still memorable, were some that happened near
home.
One was just two weeeks ago...My Honda dealer could have really
tried to fleece me, but didn't. Another incident was a few years
ago.
...I described it in an article I wrote in the old Agape
Newsletter.
Best encounter I've ever had with a State Trooper :-)
