Add your random acts of kindness - given and received

[Windblown]

So the "Chicken thread" got me depressed so I figured why not start a positive thread? (I know - feel good threads don't sell as a rule, but help prove me wrong here!)

Post up your random acts of kindness that you did for someone, or they did for you. If it was a stranger you get extra points! I have been blessed with random acts of kindness many times. A few stick out in my mind but I'll pick just one:

As a teenager I found myself in the Florida keys with no money and no prospects.  A grizzly old coot stopped by the VW beetle I was living in and we spoke for a bit. As he was leaving I saw him slip something out of his pocket and drop it on the ground. He stopped and said, "Hey, looks like you dropped something over here." and he shuffled off. I went over and picked up a wad of $20.00 bills. It gave me enough money to get home to VA.

A recent small helping hand I could offer:

Last week on my way to work traffic I ran into a traffic jam on the highway. As I drew closer I saw a woman trying to catch what appeared to be a Mastiff/pitbull mix dog that was obviously having a good time and "yanking her chain" so to speak as he playfully let her get close before jumping clear and going back to putting his head alongside peoples car windows.

People were honking and waving their arms from within their vehicles in frustration and trafiic was at a standstill. I pulled over, got out of the truck and whistled for the dog. He came right over tail wagging a hundred miles and hour as I greeted him I slipped a hand around his collar and waited for this flustered lady to make her way over to me. Handed over the dog, got back in my truck and got to work. No biggie, and cost me nothing but a moment in time.

Come on folks... Post them up! I got tons more both on the receiving and giving end but I don't wanna write a book on my own here!

[mlinkibikr]

As I enter our soaring tower of Corporate Splendor ever morning I make a big point of holding doors open for the ladies and letting them walk in front of me through the door. Some of them act like they've never seen that before and a few seem suspicious of the gesture. I figure it's the nice thing to do as they wobble in wearing their torturous footware pulling a dragbag and clutching a gym bag and a lunch sack.

 

[Real Bad Attitude]

Fixed a flat tire for a couple young ladies. They didn't have the jack in the right spot, and I had to get a cheater bar to bust a couple lug nuts loose for them.  

[Scratch33]

I did not swerve to hit that squirrel.

[Fourstring]

When I was peddling across the Eastern US, I stopped in Stratford, ON for the night.  Covered in grime with camping gear on the bicycle, I asked a guy at a stoplight if there was a church he'd recommend for sleeping or a campground outside of town.

He took one look at me; 6'2" and 117 lbs, 15 years old, and led me down to a cafe half a block away.  He walked in, plunked five bucks on the counter for a bagel and a cup of coffee, and told me to sit by the window where I could watch the day go by and keep an eye on my bike.  With a "have a nice day", he handed me his (unread) newspaper and headed on his way.

Ten minutes later, there's a call at the cafe.  He's contacted the church two blocks away; they were waiting for us to stay in the rectory basement for the night.

Never did get his name.

[Scratch33]

During my first cross-country motorcycle ride in 1995 I stopped for the night in Santa Fe.   At a nearby pub in town (the 'Catamount' IIRC) I met an elderly couple who were quite friendly and enjoyable, but obviously too drunk to drive.  

I wound up chauffering them back to their home on the outskirts of town, using their beat-up car (the car literally didn't have an inch of undented bodywork on it), then caught a cab back to the pub.  The bartender/manager comped me my food and drinks.

[blackdeek2006]

1. When I first got my motorcycle & license, was out on a ride with my father to grab a bite to eat etc and we hit a wall of traffic into a popular shopping center.  After slowly moving forward through the mess we found the reason was a middle age lady with a flat.  On an older cell phone (10yrs ago) trying to get help.  I motioned to my dad to pull over, walked over to her (in leather outfits no less) said pop the trunk.  I changed the tire while my dad talked to her and sent her on her way.  

2. Was driving home last winter and come upon a car that was stuck on a curb that acted as a divider between the entrance and exit to a housing development.  He was in a camry i believe so basically he was stuck (oh and he took out a stop sign because he was going to fast to stop at the stop sign).  So i removed the sign out from under him, and worked on pushing him and shoveling out under the tires (still snowing and late) until another guy showed up.  New guy had a plow and had the brilliant idea to push him out with the plow.  That was when i checked out.  wasn't going to stand around and watch that.  but i did what i could.

[Busy Little Whiner]

I performed CPR on a minibike rider that was run over by a car... but I failed to revive the man... I remember
giving mouth to mouth as the sound of air escaped out of the side of his body cavity... that's when I noticed
his kidney lying in the street... I could not give up... I pumped and I pumped but damn it he died...  the on site
CHP put in an award... all though I did not feel right accepting it I went to the ceremony... after all it was my
commander and the USAF that made a big deal out of it... it still bothers me today...

[Scratch33]

I performed CPR on a minibike rider that was run over by a car... but I failed to revive the man... I remember
giving mouth to mouth as the sound of air escaped out of the side of his body cavity... that's when I noticed
his kidney lying in the street... I could not give up... I pumped and I pumped but damn it he died...  the on site
CHP put in an award... all though I did not feel right accepting it I went to the ceremony... after all it was my
commander and the USAF that made a big deal out of it... it still bothers me today...

Very, uh, uplifting.  Thanks.

[bomber]

I won't recount any outgoing Random Acts of Kindness (just somehow seems to be bragging) . . . .

Many people have been kind to me, out of the blue, and for no reason.

My future Mother in Law did not kill me and bury the ashes behind the shed when she first me me at 17.

A medic works really freakin hard to take care of me, with success that could not have been expected.

The last time I dropped a streetbike, all the traffic, I mean ALL the traffic at the crowded intersection came to a halt, and I had trouble getting to the bike to pick it up -- 5 or six other folks were taking care of that chore while several others made sure I was OK.

A group in Region 4 went up to a nice riding area, where one of our number had a semi-serious get off -- all and sundry stopped, pitched in, and did what they could to keep the rider and his bike safe, direct traffic to ensure no further bumps, and Helped the First Responders get to our fairly obscure location. Out of 20 or so riders (including riders passing by who stopped to offer help) no one left until the injured rider left in the ambulance, and his bike was on it's way to a secure location.

Uplifting, I tell ya!

[hobbes]

Very, uh, uplifting.  Thanks.

I dunno. It took Larry balls to both do and say here. Good for him.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

A few acts of kindness I received can be found in this trip report. Most recently, I picked up a hitchhiker on my way home from work. I thought that he had run out of gas (I had just passed a pick up on the side of the road) but it turned out that wasn't his; he was just trying to get somewhere, so I dropped him off at the door of the office building he was heading to.

[shmily524]

Outgoing:
Last year a friend of mine lost his job, then his wife lost hers. They couldn't make their car payment and lost their minivan. No job, no car, renting a place to live.

I still had my old '84 BMW 733i from college days, and it still ran fine, so I sold it to him for a dollar.

Incoming:
My little girl climbed up on my lap last night and nearly squeezed my head off saying "I love you daddy"

[DNA]

Awesome thread - I have had many many such experiences - but one stands out recently.  The outgoing acts stay between me the recipients.

My wife called me from the side of a very bust 2 lane road with a flat tire and a 6 month old baby wailing in the car.  I was 90 minutes away at work, all our close friends were similarly unavailable and AAA said it woudl be at least an hour.

As she was talking, a guy and his son in a boy scoutt uniform no less pulled over and changed the tire while she sat with the infant safe in the car.

They will nevery know how mugh I appreciated that act of kindness for my wife.

[bomber]

DNA -- I think they do know -- this kinda thing is paying it forward in the finest sense.

Nothing to add to the thread -- just a bump for something nice.

[jay547]

back when i was seventeen, i was supposed to meet some friends at a concert in a town about 45 miles away. my car broke down on the way and i had to buy parts to fix it and used up most of my cash (pre-cell phone and credit card days.) after i fixed it, i went ahead to the concert hall and decided since i didn't have any money, i would just wait outside until it was over.  a guy came out to have a smoke and asked why i was just standing there. i told him what happened. he smiled, bought me a ticket, and said, "have a good time."

[Scratch33]

In 2005 during our first cross-country ride together, Redfox and I came up on another riding couple, Ron and Sally from Vancouver, who were having some issues going over a mountain pass in Colorado.   Sally was new to motorcycle touring and lacked confidence in her ability to handle the wind and snow going on at the time.  We decided to 'escort' them - Tammy in front and me behind them.  



Once we got off the mountain we stopped at a small cafe for some hot chocolate and exchanged info.  Later in the trip, we met up with them again at their lakeside vacation cabin in Washington state for a day, and were treated to a great dinner.

[Bogie]

I was out on the back side of Pikes Peak dirt riding when I was a kid,,,about 18-19 or so,,,and lost my wallet on the trail. 3 weeks later the wallet, money and everything shows up in my mailbox. Renewed my faith in humanity.  

[Windblown]

Great responses so far!  Just goes to show that good stuff is out there. All we have to do is look for it.  

I was out on the back side of Pikes Peak dirt riding when I was a kid,,,about 18-19 or so,,,and lost my wallet on the trail. 3 weeks later the wallet, money and everything shows up in my mailbox. Renewed my faith in humanity.  

I had the same thing happen to me as well. Lost my wallet on a MC trip while riding some trails. The person that found it contacted me and mailed it back complete with all the contents. He admitted to having a bit of a soul struggle over it and his girlfriend had helped convince him to do the right thing.  I mailed him back the cash that was in it and told him to take himself and his girlfriend out to a nice dinner on me as a way of thanks to both of them!  

I get jaded sometimes. The responses have helped me realize that there are folks out there willing to help others for no other reason than they can. Nice.  

[KenH]

I lost my high school class ring while water skiing Kentucky Lake. Three years later it showed up in my mailbox.

My first cross-country ride I stopped for gas in Vegas. When I came out of the restroom all the luggage on my bike was gone, including my wallet and all my cash. I walked into a nearby casino to call my wife, found a chip on the floor, and flipped it up on a blackjack table. The pay phone was directly behind the dealer. After making the call as I headed for the door the dealer called me over to ask what I wanted to do with my stack of chips. I had "won" enough to hang out a few days until a replacement license, insurance card, etc., and cash arrived from home.

I was eating lunch at a fast food place one of those days teachers work and students have off. There were two kids sitting at adjoining tables, a boy of about 13 and a girl about 10. The boy was seriously entertained by a pocket video game. A second video game sat on his table. When she asked for a game the boy merely raised a fist and scowled. The girl squirmed about looking as if she was experiencing the worst day of her life. It was obvious mom worked there, and had no other option for child care but to have the children sit in the lobby while she did so. Before long the little girl folded her arms and lay down her head, her face buried in the sleeves of her sweatshirt. It was obvious from the movement of her shoulders she was silently sobbing. A middle-aged man finished his lunch, left the building, then returned in about 15 minutes. He walked up to the girl's table, where a stream of tears made its meandering way across the top, dropped a coloring book on the table with enough force to startle the little girl's head up, set down a box of crayons, and said, "Never leave crayons in the car, they get all icky." He then left as quickly as he had come. Oh, the title of the coloring book was Barbie As Cindrella.


With the clock approaching midnight a lone traveler drove through a steady rain down an isolated stretch of interstate. He passed a car off in the median, lights on, dome light on, buried in mud. Odd, but there didn’t appear to be anyone in the car. He drove on the 6 or so miles to the next exit, turned around, and headed back to the car. He stopped as far off the emergency lane as he could and walked over to the car. Sure enough, it was empty, engine running, lights on, and doors locked. He looked all around and saw nobody. As he stood in the pouring rain he cleared his consciousness and listened, turned sharply to his left, walked up to a clump of bushes about 30 feet away, removed his jacket and said, “Come on before you catch pneumonia.” A young woman about college age came out of the bushes. He put her in his truck, drove her to the next exit, and arranged for a tow truck to unlock her vehicle and pull it back on the pavement. She had no money, so he paid the bill and left contact information with the girl. A week later he received a check in the mail, packed with homemade iced sugar cookies and tickets to a Cowboys game.

In the wee hours of morning while driving to North Carolina across that stretch of the Florida Turnpike that doesn’t have much of anything, I ran across a disabled vehicle with a cute female butt sticking up from under the hood. Being young and single I pulled a u-turn across the median, as any red-blooded American boy would. Turned out the girl was under-age, and she had just driven her grandmother, with whom she lived, to the emergency room. The problem was obvious—the negative battery post was floating around in a hole in the top of the battery case, completely broken loose from the plates. The girl had no money so I drove her to the nearest town, found an auto parts store, bought her a battery, took her back, got the car running, and sent her on her way. Some years later my 16-year old daughter was driving with her 14-year old brother from Charlotte to west Tennessee after her grandfather’s when the radiator split a seam. She no sooner got stopped than a 30-something couple in a pickup truck pulled in behind her. The kids had the knowledge and tools to do the repair but not the cash. They accepted a ride to the next exit to give me a call. There happened to be an auto parts place right at the exit, and the 30-something lady bought them a new radiator, 2 gallons of anti-freeze, and the phone number she gave was out of service. She said something about being stranded on the Florida Turnpike late at night and someone buying her a battery. Same girl? No way of knowing.

I once wanted to compile a book, an anthology of random acts of knindness. I have hundreds of testemonies