Its hard to believe that its already time for Thanksgiving. I hope you have something to be thankful for this year. Im grateful that Im about to have a new granddaughter, who will be born by the time you read this. My daughter, Curly Girl, will be thankful that she finally got that baby out of her, because the kid kicks her innards unceasingly now demanding to be released from her maternal prison.
Last week, I asked you for some incidents where strangers helped you for no reason, to cheer us all up from recent stressful events. I didnt have room for all the great responses, but here are a few, edited for length.
Hedy Williamson, Laguna Woods: In 2000, my husband and I (retirees) were in a rented RV in the Tasmanian backcountry. At twilight on a narrow winding road, we got a flat. Just then, a logging crew pickup truck came by. The driver called out “What’s the problem, mate?” In the time it took for my husband to say “I think we’ve got a jack here somewhere”, we had our own personal pit crew of five orange-suited lumberjacks who had their own tools out and the spare installed, refused payment or even some beers and were off down the road. When we told other Aussies about our experience and how amazing it was that the crew helped us, their uniform answer was “Amazing? Why? Of course they helped you”.
Gloria, Mission Viejo: About 6 months ago, our little chihuahua/papillon dog was attacked by a coyote. After a very expensive vet bill to suture and add drains to her neck, she was recovering at home. Despite the cone of shame, she still tried to scratch the area with her hind feet. I went to our local pet store to buy doggie booties and realized I had forgotten my wallet. The nice clerk knew I was having a bad day, so she used her own money to buy the booties and she gave me a big hug. Of course I paid her back the next day, and wrote the store a nice kudos for her.
Tom Wright, Fountain Valley: During the 1967 spring break from Cal Poly Pomona, some friends and I unwisely drove to Mazatlàn in my 1955 VW van. We were on our way home when the flywheel on the van broke off. The six of us were now stranded on the side of the road about 75 miles from any town. After about 30 minutes, an old man driving a large old stake truck stopped and offered to tow us by a rope he had in his truck. Just as we got to the next town, the rope broke and the the van rolled into a closed gas station where several men were partying. They came over and saw our problem, and immediately started pushing the van into an adjacent residential area where they stopped in the front of a house. One of the men went in and came out with a man who had a napkin tucked into his shirt. He was in the middle of his dinner! He had someone bring out his oxy acetylene machine and he welded the flywheel back on the van. He didnt ask for anything but we gave him all the money we could spare. Every time I think about that experience I am filled with gratitude to God and to those who helped us.
John Ruffner, North Hollywood: When we adopted two infants from Russia, at the airport, we had to strip almost naked, and I forgot to gather up my fanny pack containing our all-important documents. On the plane, the pilot made an announcement in Russian. By grace or luck, the three lovely Russian angels sitting behind us happened to speak English and asked me if I was missing a fanny pack. After reuniting me with my infinitely valuable purse, they were also happy to entertain our new children while we ate lunch somewhere over the Ural mountains.
Denise Mentz, La Mirada: Something so simple but sweet. I’m 59, and an older couple came into the bank. The husband sat down. No other chairs. I got up and gave my seat to his wife. She was thankful. Another man sitting down went to the conference room area to get a chair and brought it for me to sit. I was being considerate, and it came right back to me!
Reading Denises story reminded me of the gazillion times that young guys got up and gave me their seats on crowded buses when they saw that I was gimpy, mostly in Mexico and other countries where guys learn this as basic courtesy.
Got more stories? Keep on sending to me at mfisher@scng.com. And Happy Thanksgiving!