Yesterday I was in St Augustine setting up the place where my son will live after he gets released from his 2 yr service to the state. I had a few hours to kill while waiting for the rental office to open up so I could pay his rent and decided to go wander around the Home Depot. On the way I see a nice 71 ford pickup stalled in the L turn lane of US 1. spun around and asked if I could tow him off the road. He accepted and I hooked a snatch strap to his truck and drug it across the street onto a side road. Once the hood was up the first thing I saw was an empty glass fuel filter and gave the old speech" Ya know that could break and catch fire" His electric fuel pump was running but noting but bubbles in the filter. Sight glass on the side of the quick fuel carb was showing fuel. his squirters were squirting and he had spark at the coil as well as the plugs.It should run, I called jumped timing . but wasn't convinced. Pulled out a spare in line filter I keep in the truck replaced the glass one for grins and it fired right up. Weird I know and he acted as if I was some miracle worker. LOL Turns out he's a professor at the local university. Give me his card and says if I or my son ever need anything give him a call. Made a good connection for the cost of 1/2 hour of time and a 3$ filter.
I know, old thread. But bringing it back may help others to thinking about doing something nice for someone in distress. Well a while back I finally had the opportunity. At the grocery store again, upon walking back to my truck I noticed a very elderly woman slowly walking to her car. She had trouble getting in. Then I noticed her rear tire extremely low. So low it would be dangerous to drive. So I walk up to her, she is now in the car and get her attention. Told her about the tire. Clearly she didn't know what to do. Said, ok tell you what. Follow me slowly! To the gas station next block over and I'll see if they have air available. They do, so I air it back up for her. No apparent leak, so tell her she needs to get it checked out pronto. Because it will go flat again. She thanks me, and said I would have had no idea of what to do. My husband that just passed away last week handled all of this. I said omg so sorry! And asked, do you have a dedicated shop that you use? She answered yes, I have there number. It just cost me some time...
I've bought coffee for the people behind me in the Tim Hortons lineups many times, I've had it done and its a nice feeling. There have been a few crazy ones too who will anonymously drop 500.00 at Timmys and that pays for coffee for about the next 250 people all day long (it was on the news)...when our airport terminal was under construction people would get lost all the time, once I got flagged down outside our hangar and ended up driving all the way to the terminal (20 minute trip) before I went home so they could follow me and catch their flight on time (they were late, in a strange place, in a construction area, in a panic so why not help them out -I've been there). On the cars I have been ignored at dealerships before and walked out. Wanted a 97 SS 6 speed, place i visited treated me like crap, I walked out and ended up buying it brand new at another dealer (WS6 Formula 6 speed though)....every chance I could I would drive up and park right outside the salesdroid window and make sure he saw me as I walked in for parts, supplies etc..they never learn. Their loss. Treat people like you would want to be treated. Any time I have ever given away money, parts, information or help it has almost always come back many times over.
Last Wednesday evening after I'd driven my big rig some 650 miles from central Wisconsin home and dropped my trailer at our secondary yard I came across another American Professional Driver stopped on a 2 lane road. My initial thought was he was checking for somewhere to turn around as there was a small truckstop less than 1/4 mile behind him that he might have missed while driving by. As I slowly drove by him, he waved out the window. Turned my CB radio on and asked if he needed help. He was looking for his delivery location. The address he gave made little sense as it would have been near a main Runway on Winnipeg International Airport property. His customer was familiar to me, as I'd been to their main aircraft plant a few miles away many times in the past. Called my dispatch who looked up some phone numbers for me to call. While on the phone, the driver handed me his delivery papers which had a name and local contact listed. I called the guy who told me exactly which gate to use for entry and that they had a repair facility on airport grounds. He then said he would call the gate security to let the driver in. He told me he'd come down to unload him, even though it was after 2200 hrs!! :TU: Whole thing cost me about 30 minutes of my off duty time, but it's just what most Professional Truck Drivers would do for each other. I hope the other driver will pay it forward.
I haven't noticed myself in the position to buy another persons meal, or maybe I don't think about it at the time. I will say I find myself in decision making positions all the time. I was in home depot and a couple of springs that I was trying out as a return spring for the car. granted they are reasonably inexpensive when I got to the register I decided one of them was just to big. So I told the cashier that this one goes back on the shelf and this one I am paying for. she rang up the one spring but put both in the bag. this is the honesty test moment. I pull the extra spring and told her No this goes back. you didn't charge me for this. she was completely confused. Another time I was at the ATM. Next to me was a man stuffing cash into the deposit door. I noticed him because some of his cash hit my leg. he never even saw it. I reached down, picked it up and tapped him on the shoulder. let him know he's dropping cash and handed him his money. again a confused look and said "every dollar counts" and continued stuffing the machine with cash. I thought to myself, this guy just has to much of this filthy green stuff. lol It's these moment when you find out exactly how honest you really are. I alway feel like I have passed another test. Karma is real. Do the right thing.
Today while standing in line at a brat fry donation for the American Cancer Society, (you give whatever amount you want for the brats) a young dude (kid) walked up to the stand and asks "where do we just give a donation?" Hands over a $100 dollar bill and as he was walking away, says he just lost his mother to cancer.
I don't want this to turn into an "I am wonderful" type of thread (yes, I know that it is an old one), but I do have a little story: The house that I lived in in for 33 years in Massachusetts had been well-known to the local police. When we bought it, it had what appeared to be bloodstains on the floors in two rooms, and a door that had a hole punched in it. We later found that a local police officer made the hole when he went after one of the kids that lived there. Did I mention that they had a dog named Dillinger and another named Satan? In any event, about seven years ago I was doing some cleaning in the basement when I found a Newton (MA) high school gold ring - class of 1956. It had some initials engraved on the inside. It took me six years of very part-time detective work, but in 2015 I finally located it's now-elderly owner. She said that her house had been broken into many years ago, and her jewelry case and some other stuff had been stolen. She and her husband were clearly not wealthy, but they gave me a couple of bottles of wine. I could see how happy she was to have the ring returned after all of those years.
Im on my lunchtime walk in Manhattan and I witness a delivery truck who was parked, pull out and basically run over the front fender and hood (with the back wheels) of a new Jag waiting in the line of traffic. A very well dressed older man gets out of the Jag as the truck driver launches out of his rig about to go berserk on this guy. I step between them and tell Mr. Jag to get in his car, lock the doors and call 911 - he does. Trucker walks around all hot and steaming shouting about how this guy just ruined his day etc When he finally walks back to his truck I go over to Mr Jag and hand him my card and tell him "I witnessed the whole thing - If you need me, let me know .." About 2 weeks later he calls and asks if I would mind speaking with his insurance Co. to which I agree. He then asks why I even bothered ? I said, "Because it was the right thing to do .. and someday I hope someone does that for me". A few days later the Ins. Co. calls and I tell them the story - he was just sitting there stopped at a light and the truck basically pulled out and ran over his car ..". About a month later Mr. Jag calls to thank me - says "I dont know what you told them, but because of your testimony I'm totally off the hook for repairs etc". He says he wants to thank me by taking me to dinner - anywhere I want in Manhattan, money is no object. I tell him that isn't necessary - I was glad to help. He insists, and asks if I like Sushi ? I laughed "Of course .." and he asks if I could meet him here http://www.kurumazushi.com/menu Next Tuesday. I arrive that evening after work and am escorted to a private sitting area where he is waiting. The head chef comes over and greets him by name .. and after some small talk Mr. Jag tells him to "Surprise me tonight .. do your thing until my friend and I cant eat any more" Turns out he was a Verrrry successful retired corporate lawyer / turned Judge / now teaching Law at one of Manhattan's colleges just to keep busy. We had a nice evening talking and getting to know each other. When we were done (it was THE MOST AMAZING meal of my life..) and leaving, he thanked me for an enjoyable evening and he reached into his wallet and gave me his personal card - told me to consider this "Your get out of Jail Free" card .. whatever I may need, anytime of day or nite. .. THAT is a card I will carry in my wallet for many years
I was reading this thread this morning here at work, really good stuff. I walked out to our loading dock and smelled anti freeze from somewhere. I saw a mini-van with two ladies out with the hood up trying to put water in with a small water bottle. I asked if they needed help, had them drive over in front of my plant and got a hose out to fill the radiator. They were going to Pike Place Market, so I gave them a tour of our steam plan, including the underground portion and popped them up on Western Ave just below the Market. I'm watching their van, and when they get back I'll make sure it's full of water before they take off. I'm assuming it was a bit low on water, and Seattle stop and go traffic got the best of it! Glad to do my part!!
All these stories are just more proof of what kind of people we have in our 'community' here. Bunch of great men and women.
I almost never give money to anyone begging. I learned at a very early age that money IS the root of a lot of problems. My earliest memory of charity and how to weed it out is this. My dad owned the Buick GMC dealership in town and lots of people would stop by asking for charity to get them down the road. Dad told me he once helped someone that needed a tow and hauled the car over 60 miles to their VERY BIG, VERY NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE! After that, he told people that needed help to go across the street to the Catholic church, were he attended, to ask the priest for help. That was the test. If they wouldn't spend a few minutes talking to the priest, they got no help from Dad. I have bought food and tried to buy food for folks. That's my test. I've stopped on the side of the road and helped people. Thankfully, people have stopped for me on the side of the road. Karma has smiled upon me. Once, a kid in his early 20s broke down in front of my house, a busy two-lane road. I was mowing and he asked for some gas. I poured the remaining gallon from my 5gal mower gas can into his truck but it still wouldn't start. I helped him push it into my driveway and told him it could stay until his father could come help him with it. They showed back up an hour or so later to work on it but it wasn't starting and they suspected the computer had failed. He had a daughter in her princess costume, fresh from a birthday party, maybe 3yrs old, that was with him. I let her play on my daughter's trampoline. My daughter, 20 and at college, hadn't used it years and I told him if he'd help me disassemble it, he could have it. They had to get the truck towed and his father brought my 5 gal gas can back filled up! While we waited for the tow truck, we loaded the trampoline into his truck bed. We all do what we can and sometimes it helps us in return.
Thanks all for the good deeds. This is awesome! Pike Place Market. While visiting Dave Knutsen to pick up some of the original rare parts from the Reynolds K/B car that he was storeing for Dave Johnson, we stopped there among many other great places around Seattle. Wonderful place and we would make the Trip again. Good memories...
I like to buy for military people and thank them for their service too as I'm in convenience stores a lot. They really appreciate it. My grandsons always thank military people for their service too when they see them at restaurants, etc.
I received my Christmas bonus of $3,000, and I decided to spend all of it for the local Toys for Tots program. Drove to a local Toys r Us store, and proceeded to fill my Ford F150 pick up to the hilt with all kinds of toys.
Yep it's a fun place to visit. Never would have imagined I'd be working at a boilerhouse in the heart of downtown Seattle!!
Wow. Small world and appluad you for doing so. My wife has, owns a production agency that she donates her time and resorses every year to help put on our yearly Toys for Tots program. It really is a cool deal. Thanks!
When I see a military veteran (usually wearing a hat describing their service) I almost always walk up and say "thank you for your service". I always do this with a WW2 vet. Two weekends ago I ran into a WW2 vet who was at Normandy on June 6, 1944.
While it seems I live my life at grocery stores, that is not the case. Just do the cooking at our home. That being said, had the opportunity to do another good deed. Although in this case I wish this would not have happened in the first place. Getting out of the car and walking through the parking lot to the store, I noticed an elder guy pushing his cart in the snowy, icy lot seeming to be looking for where he parked his car. Didn't think much of it at the time. Well did my shopping which took half hour to an hour. Loaded groceries and started to drive off. Keep in mind it's 4% out. Then noticed this same guy hunched over, nose dripping like a faucet, looking very confused, and seemed to be looking where he parked his car. Got out, patted him on the back to get his attention and said, "I noticed you looking for your car for a while now, can I help you find it?" He didn't say anything other than "it's a silver Buick with part of the license plate SLV". Found it way off in the distance within the a couple minutes. Poor old dude was shivering cold.
