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

[CLAY]

I've picked up a few hitchhikers- one goth looking kid in the rain that everyone was passing by.  Clearly his car was broken down a few hundred yards back.  Good grief- he looks odd but he's still a kid that needed help.  Nice kid too.

I've done a few things and had a few done to me, but yesterday while I was home from work waiting to hear about a twisted ankle X-ray, I was playing legos with my boy- he just stopped, looked at me, and said "Dad, it's fun playing legos with you" and gave me a hug.    That did it for me right there!  They get in the way sometimes, but my kids are a blast.  

I'm a big fan of paying it forward.

[twotrackhero]

A while back I was getting ready for work (4:30 am),I hear a knock at the front door? a younger guy was standing there and apparently hit a snow drift across the road and went in the ditch(it was bitter cold out).  I offered him to come in and warm up with some coffee while I got the truck ready. We had to dig his car out in order to find a place to attach the tow strap around the frame (30 min). once we got it hooked up, I pulled his car from the ditch. Durring the pull, my keeper strap slid forward and got caught between the frame and body of his car. I had to cut the strap in order to remove it from his car. He wanted to give me the twenty bucks he had in his wallet, I told him no thanks I might need a favor from him some day. That afternoon when I got home from work, their was a brand new $100 dollar keeper strap on my porch and a note thanking me for the help  

You have to believe in Karma

[Cheddarhead]

#1:  Heading out to Madison to see my son / do some volunteer work at the shop where his Drum Corps parks their semi trailers during hte winter months...stopped at the only rest stop westbound on I-94, where I observed a young couple obviously in the "out of options/ out of ideas" phase just prior to meltdown.  She was (very) pregnant and they'd left the lights on/battery was dead.

No jumper cables in my car...which was unusual...so I took them both out to Lake Mills....hit up the auto parts store for a set of jumpers and a new battery and a couple of wrenches, just in case.

Old battery was too far gone, so we dropped in the new one and fired their old buick up.  He wanted to re-pay the time/effort/funds...I told him to lavish the care on her and their soon-to-be newborne....and on a stranger along to road when they're able.

Got a birth announcement in the mail about 5 weeks later...they must have run my plates....


#2:  I spend a "lot" of time in airports....and every time I see a US soldier or Marine, I greet them...and if they're in a bar or cafe, their bill is paid anonomously.  Least I can do for the men and women who stand post so my kids can grow up safe and free.

Firm believer in paying it forward.....

[Guy]

A few years back, I was driving and noticed a car blocking the sidewalk, and a mentally and physically  handicapped gentleman was unable to get around. I busted a u-turn and pulled up next to him and asked if he needed help. He smiled and sort of nodded. I hopped out, ran up to the house and knocked. The guy that answered was embarrassed when I explained the situation to him. After he moved the car the handicapped guy gave me one of the sweetest smiles I had ever seen.

[KenH]

... #2:  I spend a "lot" of time in airports....and every time I see a US soldier or Marine, I greet them...and if they're in a bar or cafe, their bill is paid anonomously.  Least I can do for the men and women who stand post so my kids can grow up safe and free.

Firm believer in paying it forward.....

That seems to be SOP around here. It is not unusual to offer to pay for servicepersons only to be told it is already taken care of.

[knolltop314]

I was doing "Round Lake Michigan" tour by bicycle.

About halfway up the Michigan side I hear a "PING" from front wheel.  Damn, busted spoke.
Replaced spoke from spares I'm carrying.
About an hour later ... "PING", this time from rear wheel but fortunately not on freewheel side!  Had a spoke to fix that one also.

But now know my wheels are going, going, soon to be gone.  Sure enough, another soon goes.  This time on REAR wheel, and on freewheel side!
I limped into next town & found the local bike shop.  It's 4:00 pm  on a Saturday & I need pair of rebuilt wheels!  

Fortunately for me, shop owner was also the chief mechanic.  He quickly evaluated the situation, confirmed that rebuilding wheels was only reliable solution, and promised to have them ready for me to be on my way 1st thing Sunday morning!  
THEN we looked outside and saw the darkening skies.  This guy's wife, who also worked in the shop, immediately offered to drive me to motel.  By the time we arrived at motel in car there were buckets of water pouring from above.

This guy worked extra hours on a Saturday night to carefully rebuild my wheels, put 'em back on the bike, and dropped bike at my motel.  I was at dinner & he just left a note attached to the wheels saying that he'd be in his shop Sunday morning & I could just stop by to "settle up" on my way outta town.  Talk about trusting a stranger .......
Of course, I stopped by the shop in the morning to "settle up".
This wonderful guy charged me JUST $92 TO COMPLETELY REBUILD 2 TOURING WHEELS!!!  Absolutely unbelievable!!
My touring bike is still going strong on those wheels.  They NEVER go out of true!
I'll never forget the generosity of David and Lisa.

[CLAY]

knolltop- being a west michigander- what was the name of the shop and in what town?  If I need work done I'm going there.

[JonS]

About a month ago, I was having a bout of sprig fever and decided to drive out Butler Wash Rd and see if I could find a ruin I had read about. This is a dirt road that is entirely on BLM land and about 20 miles long. As I drove, the road kept getting worse with snow depth increasing and other vehicle tracks becoming nonexistent. I finally decided that that I should turn around, but couldn't, so I kept going. Finally, about 6 miles from the highway at the end of the road, I got stuck(4X4). This is literally in the middle of nowhere, so my dog and I hiked out in about 6" of mash potato snow, at best. When we finally reached Hwy95, I was almost completely exhausted and it was getting toward evening. That Highway has very little traffic in winter. As I reached the road, an suv was passing the other way. He waved as he passed and so did I. As I kept going, there was no traffic at all and I decided that I might have to keep going all night. About a half hour later, I heard a car and it turned out to be the same one that passed me the other way. He stopped and said he was thinking that I was in a very odd place for a walk and decided to check. He gave us a ride all the way home, about 25 miles away. It was almost a miracle! Never did see another vehicle on that highway. I will always remember that man and his kindness.

[bomber]

That seems to be SOP around here. It is not unusual to offer to pay for servicepersons only to be told it is already taken care of.

This is true.

And this, my friends, represents the best change to our culture in the last 40 years, IMO.

[Real Bad Attitude]

A while back I was getting ready for work (4:30 am),I hear a knock at the front door? a younger guy was standing there and apparently hit a snow drift across the road and went in the ditch(it was bitter cold out).  I offered him to come in and warm up with some coffee while I got the truck ready. We had to dig his car out in order to find a place to attach the tow strap around the frame (30 min). once we got it hooked up, I pulled his car from the ditch. Durring the pull, my keeper strap slid forward and got caught between the frame and body of his car. I had to cut the strap in order to remove it from his car. He wanted to give me the twenty bucks he had in his wallet, I told him no thanks I might need a favor from him some day. That afternoon when I got home from work, their was a brand new $100 dollar keeper strap on my porch and a note thanking me for the help  

You have to believe in Karma

And this is what it's all about. Great story. Thanks  

[vulcanbill]

One of my favorites was when I was in school at GW.  I was heading up to the East Falls Church Metro station and there was a blind guy making his way.  I had zero experience with blind people and was actually a little uncomfortable but I got close enough that he'd know I was talking to him and asked if I may offer assistance.  He smiled and said that would be great.  I said cool, what do I do?  He looked surprised and explained that he just needed an elbow and about 3 feet warning and some space when we got near an obstacle.  We didn't chat much but for just a few seconds, he was able to open his stride and basically fast walk like the rest of us as if nothing were amiss.  I don't know why that made me feel so good or why I remember it so clearly as it was many moons ago.  I've helped many people in many not good situations, some quite hairy circumstances, and I never regret the decision regardless of the inconvenience it may cause.

[David Morrow]

Occasionally, I will see someone eating alone in a restaurant - military, police officer, someone who just looks like they may need a little cheering up, or someone appearing down on their luck. When I pay for my meal, I ask for their tab as well and anonymously pay it on my way out.

I'm sure some of you will wince at the idea of paying a cop's tab but my brother is an RCMP officer and gives everything to his job and receives a lot of the usual crap in return. I like to give back and maybe treat someone like I would like to be treated when I'm alone and would appreciate something nice being done for me.

[lizard]

Based on the "Chicken thread got me depressed..." I probably shouldn't post this, but I'm gonna anyway.

We found an abandoned juvenile cat in our neighborhood last Saturday afternoon, fairly lean but didn't look starved. We scooped her up, took her home, fed & watered her, made her a place to stay/nap/adjust in the garage with the plan to take her to our vet on Monday. She was obviously used to peoples and probably an indoor cat. Had the litterbox and food/water in bowls figured out. Wanted in the door into the house, and purred when we would pet her, brush her, or pick her up. She seemed to have a sweet personality as we took turns holding and rolling her all around trying to get a good look and check her out for injuries and all she did was purr and try to rub on us. She perked up and become more active Sat night and Sun morning after having the opportunity to eat, drink, and rest. Sunday afternoon she suddenly became very lethargic and we decided to take her to the emergency vet. After a fairly thorough exam, the vet indicated that she seemed to be in decent health and no immediate danger although she would need some meds. They went back to get her and returned a couple of minutes later to tell us she was having a major seizure and probably wouldn't survive. If she did manage to survive it was extremely likely she'd have severe neurological damage and probably be partially or fully paralyzed. Also, the seizure could last up to an hour and the vet recommended she be put to sleep. So we held a kitty we met 24 hours earlier while she was euthanized. We didn't manage to take any pics and hadn't picked a name. Although it is sorta depressing, at least she got to be warm, safe, inside, fed, and shown love   in her last day. We tried...

[hornet_1971]

It's nice to hear that there are still good people around.


Outgoing
Woke up at 3:30 one morning for no apparent reason and went to get a glass of water. Then I heard some kind of wimpering noise coming from outside. Got dressed and went to investigate and found a late teens/early 20s girl crying in the street about 6 houses down. She had had a fight with her boyfriend and he kicked her out of his house and stranded her there. She didn't want me to call the cops or her parents so I put a jacket on her since it was late October and cold, and then drove her home.


Incoming
When I was in my 20s, I had a business trip to Prague and after it was done took a train down to Aviano Italy to visit my brother who was temporarily stationed there for Bosnia support. This was a seat of the pants trip with no real plans made and my brother didn't even know when I would arrive. I arrived at the Aviano station to find it was unmanned and the pay phone was broken. I later found out it was a national holiday and taxis weren't running anyway. I guy doing yard work across the street turned out to be an Air Force sargent and took me to the base, got me a pass, and then took me to my brother's Marine squadron. I wasn't able to stay on base so the Air Force sargent offered a room in his house and I stayed there a couple nights with his family while sightseeing with my brother during the days.

[Papa Lazarou]

changed a flat tyre for a stranded woman in her car yesterday.

[DRam]

Went to visit my son while he was in Rexburg, ID attending college.  When we left I gassed up and left my credit card on the counter.  It was a few months later while stranded in Bozeman, MT during a blizzard before I missed it.  A call to the gas station in Rexburg was made, they had my card in their cash register waiting for me.  Not many days later it showed up in the mail.

There are honest people in the world - far more honest than dishonest.

[Papa Lazarou]

There are honest people in the world - far more honest than dishonest.

true

[TuffguyF4i]

Changed a tire for a lady outside my gym in the pouring rain.

Jumped a few cars.

Assisted many road side repairs...one guy lost a bolt out of the shift lever on is older gsxr.

I help ladies more than guys.  For women, it is a very unsafe situation to be stranded.  They are at the mercy of whoever stops, so I take it to heart when they are stranded.  I would hope and honest person would do the same for my wife.  
Even though she has the instructions to shoot through the window if you're stranded and anyone gives you any crap!  

[Rigger]

Having once been nearly homeless and I was hungry, I recieved help and to this day I pay it forward if and when I can.  

[seeeester]

It's nice to hear that there are still good people around.

And lizard, you're one of them...thank you for taking that kitty in and taking care of it to the (unfortunate) end.   It's been a pleasure to read everyone's stories of random kindness.

[JeffM]

I saved a neighbor from getting his car towed this week. He was parked in a handicap spot (legit - he's ancient and has a placard) but his card had fallen on the floor. He had a $100 ticket and an impound notice, since he only drives once every couple of weeks. I left a note on his door telling him he ought to move his car, since that's what I'd want someone to do for me if I was in that situation. He has since offered to buy me lunch, but I told him it wasn't necessary.

[Guy]

Years ago, as a teenager, I took my dad's Mustang 5.0 out under false pretenses, and promptly blew a radiator hose at 115mph* during a high speed joy ride with friends late at night. Of course being young and dumb (as opposed to older, and still dumb) I decided to drive it home in stages. Drive for 10-15 minutes until the car started to overheat, then sit for an hour or two and let the car cool off, and repeat. During one of the stops on the interstate a black man pulled over and offered to give all three of us a lift to a gas station that was 10 miles away for some radiator fluid, and then drive us back**. We thanked him profusely, and he simply stated that someone had helped him, and he was simply returning the favor.

*-Nothing quite like coming to a stop after 115mph and a wall of fog passes you still moving 60mph

**-The gentleman did have one question for us. "Have any of you ever gone down on a woman?" He was curious, and wanted to know what it was like.  

[KenH]

I saved a neighbor from getting his car towed this week. He was parked in a handicap spot (legit - he's ancient and has a placard) but his card had fallen on the floor. He had a $100 ticket and an impound notice, since he only drives once every couple of weeks. I left a note on his door telling him he ought to move his car, since that's what I'd want someone to do for me if I was in that situation. He has since offered to buy me lunch, but I told him it wasn't necessary.

If he only drives once every couple of weeks perhaps he is lonely and seeks a reason to get out for lunch with a friend? Talk about an act of kindness--feeling useless and unwanted is a major problem with a lot of old folks. 30 minutes of your time may be the best gift he has received in 20 years.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Not mine, but I thought this video was pretty awesome:

divers save starving shark

[JeffM]

If he only drives once every couple of weeks perhaps he is lonely and seeks a reason to get out for lunch with a friend? Talk about an act of kindness--feeling useless and unwanted is a major problem with a lot of old folks. 30 minutes of your time may be the best gift he has received in 20 years.

It's not like that - his wife is still with him and she does most of their driving as her eyesight and coordination are better. We live downtown where you can walk most places, so he doesn't need to drive and probably shouldn't. I talk to him pretty regularly when I walk the dog in the morning, as he reads the paper on the front porch of our lofts.

[Blunder]

I dunno if it counts but I always make sure the correct amount of money exchanges hands at supermarkets, convenience stores and such. I don't know how many times I've been given change for a 20 when I paid with a 10.

Back when the International Motorcycle show was held at the Cow Palace I came across a CX500 that was parked on Geneva with the key in the ignition. I pulled the key and stuffed it 'tween the seat and tank and left a small note under the seat strap that would lead the owner to the key. A few hours later I noticed that the bike was gone. I hope the rightful owner rode it home.

[cultureslayer]

I thought the guy at the jewelry store changing my watch battery for free was being nice, turns out he fucked it up and didn't want to give me a receipt.   That's normally how random acts of kindness go for me.  

[CLAY]

I thought the guy at the jewelry store changing my watch battery for free was being nice, turns out he fucked it up and didn't want to give me a receipt.   That's normally how random acts of kindness go for me.  

   Why does this not surprise me in the least?  Awesome!

[cultureslayer]

Turns out the jewelry store did make it right for me.    When I get a real job I know where I'll go for a nicer watch.  

[bassjones]

10 years ago I had to sell some bass equipment to pay bills when we were in a particularly bad spot financially.  I was down to one bass and a bass amp head but no speakers.  I had a paying gig coming up but no money to buy a cabinet so I asked another bass player at church if I could borrow one of his spare cabinets.  Sure no problem.  I went to return it a week later and he told me to keep it, just do the same for somebody in the future if I was in a position to do so.  This was a high end Eden cabinet, not some cheapo piece of garbage.  His kindness has been repaid a few times, but that is between myself and the recipients.

[KenH]

It's not like that - his wife is still with him and she does most of their driving as her eyesight and coordination are better. We live downtown where you can walk most places, so he doesn't need to drive and probably shouldn't. I talk to him pretty regularly when I walk the dog in the morning, as he reads the paper on the front porch of our lofts.

That counts as RAKs.  

[Hardware]

About a month ago, on the way to work one morning, I pulled into a Tim Horton's I'd never been to before.  It's one of those with a poor layout for the entrance to the drive-through in relation to the parking spots and the actual entry lane to the lot.

Pulling in and trying to figure out the drive-through (which wasn't signed) I sort of cut off a woman heading for the drive-through lane as well (she was coming from across the other side of the parking lot).  

When I got up to the window I asked the girl what the person behind me had ordered - I didn't want to luck in with someone ordering 3 dozen doughnuts and a box of coffee for an office gathering.  It was a normal order, so I paid for her.

[KenH]

About a month ago, on the way to work one morning, I pulled into a Tim Horton's I'd never been to before.  It's one of those with a poor layout for the entrance to the drive-through in relation to the parking spots and the actual entry lane to the lot.

Pulling in and trying to figure out the drive-through (which wasn't signed) I sort of cut off a woman heading for the drive-through lane as well (she was coming from across the other side of the parking lot).  

When I got up to the window I asked the girl what the person behind me had ordered - I didn't want to luck in with someone ordering 3 dozen doughnuts and a box of coffee for an office gathering.  It was a normal order, so I paid for her.

People pay for the people behind them in drivethroughs all the time. Toll booths, too. Back in the olden days one of the tolls on the Miami expressways was a dime. I didn't feel like pocketing the $0.90 change and holding up traffic so I just handed the toll lady a dollar and rode on through. I watched in the mirror as she waved through the first couple cars. I bet the first person to have to pay was pissed after watching all those cars just ahead roll on through.  

[PirateT7]

it's just  a little thing but I like to think it helps make people's day just a little easier:  whenever I'm getting out of the car or off the bike at the grocery store, I look around for people unloading their carts, especially older folk or those with kids, and time it so that I'm passing them as they're getting the last bag of groceries into their car. I take their cart for them, and return it to the storefront so they don't have to.

[Leanintree]

Today I tackled a shoplifter fleeing a store from a botched shoplifting attempt. My elbow hurts but I have a good story. Is that a good deed?

LT