Add your random acts of kindness - given and received

[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.