Random Kindness

Rick V · 06-21-2007, 02:56 PM

I met a fellow yesterday who did a nice thing for someone he never met.
In a world where greed, and having to keep up with the Johnes's runs wild, it is nice to meet someone who isn't concerned with money, and just felt like doing a nice deed.
He is a fellow Pelican, and is new to the board, so I will not reveal his name (he can chime in if he feels like it), and some of you can figure out what I am referring to.
I am still in awe of the kindness I was the lucky recipient of.
Just thought I would share. There are still nice people in the world.
Thanks!

PS I'm sure a thread about kindness will end up on page 3 by 9pm tonight...................oh well.

on-ramp · 06-21-2007, 05:58 PM

it's 10PM and you're still on page 1

Moneyguy1 · 06-21-2007, 07:00 PM

We will keep it on page 1. I feel that most people are good, and they outnumber those who are not by a large number.

I once kmew a lady who would say: "People have to EARN my friendship!!"

I responded: "My life must be easier than yours. Everyone is my friend until they prove they are not."

Simplistic, but I love the bumper sticker: "Commit random acts of kindness"

Laneco · 06-21-2007, 07:12 PM

When I was a child, my mother, younger brother and I traveled from California to Pennsylvania. This was in about 1973. We had a 1949 two and half ton GMC stock truck with horses loaded inside and pulled a small horse trailer behind it (17 horses total, 3 people in the cab).

The truck began to run abyssmally while crossing mountains. I remember grinding up the hills so slowly that roadside rabbits were running faster than the truck could go.

By the time we got to the farmlands in the midwest, something was terribly wrong with that big gaspot engine. It began smoking omininously and somewhere in Iowa, in the midst of a sea of cornfields, the engine exploded violently and we lurched to the side of the interstate.

3 people, 17 horses, no cell phone and just enough gas money to make Pennsylvania. Forget about repairs. Mom had a meltdown and just sat on the berm wailing. Fella in a tow truck slows down, then stops ahead of us. He sits there a minute and then backs up. Mom yells at him "keep going, I don't have any money." Fellah says, "yeah I know," and hooks up.

He took the whole load of us to his house. His wife greeted us like long lost friends. We unloaded the horses at their farm. Stayed there a week while he fixed the truck. Mom gave up $300 for the repairs, he said that was enough. Bull****. Trust me, that didn't even cover parts, even in 1973.

A family of complete strangers opened their door to three people they had never met and 17 horses and wouldn't take a dime for their hospitality.

I fell in love with the kind people of Iowa. Just telling me you're from Iowa puts a smile on my face.

Life is short. Pay it forward.
angela

Chocaholic · 06-21-2007, 07:24 PM

Ok...you don't have to reveal who it was, but......what the heck was the act of kindness? Why keep us all in suspense? You know...that's not very nice.

Moses · 06-21-2007, 07:32 PM

It will take the rest of my life to repay the kindness others have shown me. When someone is in real trouble people are unselfish and heroic.

Joeaksa · 06-21-2007, 07:46 PM

I try to do something for someone every day. Large or small it does not matter and if they ask what they can do in return I tell them that its easy, pass it along to the next person you meet who can use a hand.

M.D. Holloway · 06-21-2007, 07:59 PM

I let the women behind me have the last chicken fried steak today in our company lunch room. Come to find out she had been talking about it all week to her co-worker and when the chef was handing it to me I heard her disappointment. I handed it to her and told her that I would like her to have it. I swear there was a tear in her eye.

Normally if I heard this story I would assume that the women was a 300lb heffer. She is not. She is 30 something, about a size 4 and I think a nat redhead - hence the great steak giveaway of June.

I'm done for kindness in June - back to being a self-centered jerk...

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

So many people have helped me that I really try to do something nice and unexpected for others each day.

jjone20 · jjone20's Garage

The other day I'm following the Schwan's truck up my one-lane dead end road. He slows to a stop, and I pull up behind. No signal - I figure he's checking an address or something. Blink - on go the back up lights and he backs up right into me. He gets out, and so do I, and he's all ready to get blasted. I look at the car and its just a little scraped paint and a busted $2.95 race track plate that I made myself (HALLETT!). "You want my info?" Don't worry about it - figuring he'd probably get fired. The Schwan's guy offered some freebies, but I don't need ice cream so I said no thanks. To me, that was a RAK, but i wondered afterward what the guy thought - relief, what a dope (me), surprise? Will he pass it on? Now if I'd had the 911 instead of the clapped-out 924 daily driver...