Kindness of strangers

[Linn Bee]

I was 19 and driving alone from Oregon to Wisconsin for Christmas. I had already sent my daughter home on a plane, but wanted to have my car. When I got to the Rockies, there was a huge snowstorm. Only cars with snow chains were being allowed through and they were about to close down the roads completely.

I had no money other than what I needed for gas. I told the police my situation. They tried several local charities hoping to get money for a room or chains for my car. After many failures, the Salvation Army bought chains for me and I was able to continue my drive home.

I have been blessed in my life. I don't remember the town, so I've never been able to repay them. Once I was financially able to, my local Salvation Army received(s) a goodly check every year from "Santa" as a thank you for helping that young girl in need.

An there is more to the story. . .

I was less than 150 miles from home when I ran out of gas and gas money on the interstate. An 18-wheeler stopped to help, toted me to a gas station and back to my car - while extolling the folly of accepting a ride from strange men - then paid to fill my car with gas! To my effusive 'thank you's' he just smiled and said he hoped someone would be there to help his daughter some day.

Love, Linn B (aka Smart Red) Gardening zone 5a - 4b in south-est, central-est Wisconsin

 

[babymakes6]

I love giving the toll booth attendant a $20 and telling her to use it for the people behind me as far as it will stretch.

You should see the faces when they pass you on the toll road later!

 

[Fierlin1182]

Wow, that's an awesome idea. We don't have many toll roads down here, but I'd love to do that.

 

[Beekissed]

This happens in my home town and I always love it. When it happens to me, I just accept it and wear a big smile....and the next time I come through the toll bridge, I pay it forward! This happens more often during the holiday season.

 

[lisa7777]

I have three kids and once me and my daughter were in the grocery store and I did not have much money was counting pennies to pay for the groceries was so embarrassing. A man in line behind my five year old daughter handed her a 20 dollar bill and said here keep it this is for you. I was in awe that he gave her so much, i guess there are still some caring nice people in the world.

 

[Beekissed]

There was a time when my company was on strike and I was earning no pay at all but still, technically, employed. My three boys were young, I had just bought a house right before the strike, my vehicle had just blown an engine and I was, to put it mildly, flat and completely broke.

My boys had bank accounts in the bank across the street and had went over there to take some money out because they had it in their heads they wanted some Ramen Noodles...something we were quite familiar with at that time. The youngest asked to draw out $.25 of his remaining $.75 and when the bank teller asked him why he was taking out $.25 he innocently told her that he needed it for the tax on a bag of Ramen Noodles. His brothers had the remaining money...roughly $.99.

All the while I knew nothing of this transaction. A few days later we came home in our borrowed car and found every countertop space in our house filled with groceries. As I cried and wondered how anyone knew we needed the food~ and wondered just how they got into my house~ the boys finally told me their tale and suggested maybe the people at the bank had done this because they had seemed really sad that the boys had to draw out their last few cents from their savings for a bag of Ramen Noodles.

You can guess my embarassment when they told me the story about their little adventure(I was mortified they had let anyone know we were so down to nothing)....and also my gratitude that God had allowed someone to help me when I was too proud to ask for help.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
WOW!!!! Great story. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
WOW!!!! Great story. Thanks for sharing.

X2!!

 

[WriterofWords]

My grandmother always told me she would get me through my first 25 years and then I was on my own. I got married at 19, divorced at 23 and was living with my grandmother the day I turned 25, on May 24, 1988. I was doing some photography for the El Paso Diablos and they were playing in Midland TX against the Angels Double A team. She woke me up the morning of May 27, 1988, 3 days after I turned 25, and told me to get on the road or I would be late, she told me she loved me which really made my day because she was not a demonstrative woman and for her to say that out loud was just super special. I thought about that the entire trip to Midland which I drove from Chaparral, right outside El Paso, TX.

When I got to Midland the police were waiting for me at the hotel; right after I left she sat down to watch her soaps, fell asleep, and never woke up. She had never been sick a day in her 76 years, she had 2 of her 3 children at home on military bases around the world and was a very strong woman.

I had to turn around and make the drive straight back home. I stopped at a gas station to fill up there in town, those were the days you filled up and then went in to pay! The line was horribly long and I was practically hysterical standing there waiting when I wanted to be on the road. A man in front of me asked what was wrong and I told him I was on my way home, my grandmother had died, he told me to go that he would pay for my gas. I said I had to use my credit card I didn't have cash, and he said he didn't want cash, he would pay, I should go. He let the clerk know I was leaving and that he would pay for my gas with his.

I left and hadn't been on the road for long when 2 truckers pulled up behind me and hailed me on my cb, it was obvious I had one, I still have a really long whip antenna on my truck. They had been in the station and heard me and they went out of their way to escort me all the way back to El Paso, several hundred miles out of their way, to make sure I got there safely.

I still believe in the innate goodness, and kindness, of the human race.

 

[kari_dawn]

This has got to be one of the best threads here on BYC...thank you all for sharing your wonderful stories.