I was driving very slowly in bumper-to-bumper traffic down the peninsula at rush hour one summer evening. It was hot and I was trying to get home from my design job. Suddenly, my little car died - completely died with no warning! Knowing that there was nothing I could do until I got my car into the freeway shoulder I proceeded to put the car in neutral and got out of my car (in heels and a dress!) to push. After several dirty stares from other drivers trying to squeeze through as I was trying to push my car AND steer at the same time (mind you, I am wearing the same dress and heels), someone pulled their car over behind me. A man in his late 40's, early 50's got out of his car, asked if I needed help and I gladly said, "Yes!". He helped push my car into the shoulder of the freeway and asked if I needed to call someone (this was before I had a cell phone, especially with a college-student budget). Since my brother worked right off the freeway exit and I had hoped that he hadn't left for the day, I asked the man to drive me to my brother's company building. Although it didn't occur to me later that I was completely insane for getting into a car with a completely stranger, I did get into that car. During the short drive I asked the man why he stopped to help me when many other drivers would not. His answer? He told me that he has a daughter close to my age and when/if she ever finds herself in similar circumstances, he hoped that someone would help her just as he's helping me when no one else would. It goes to show that no act of kindness is too small because it can be felt now or later.
I often wonder what would happen if my car died on a highway. I'm not sure I'd be able to get out and start pushing like Cathe did, but I guess you aren't left with many options! I can guarantee that the whole time I'd be repeating in my head, "Someone please stop and help me! Someone please stop and help me!" If I do find myself in that situation, I sure hope that gentlemen like the one Cathe encountered aren't too rare!
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10 comments:
Alright, that just about made me cry! Especially since it was Cathe (I'm a Feterie fan too!), but even more so because that man was moved by his love for his daughter to help another. I think becoming a parent has definitely made me nicer. I jump to assist others now more often than I used to, with the hope that others will show the same kindness to my children during moments when I'm not around. Great story Cathe!
Great Story.. thanks Cathe & Mel for sharing.
I can remember that happening to me sooooo many times when I was in college (but without the dress). I even exhausted my AAA services!
To make the story short, I finally donated the car to a mechanic...
Julia
Awww that's really nice but I can't believe that there are people who wouldn't help! I mean, it's not going to help the traffic situation if there's a broken-down car in the way, and they're not exactly going anywhere else, are they??
I'm glad there are at least a few people with some compassion!
Once when I was home on break from college and driving to the gym with my sister, I misjudged a u-turn and tore a hole in the sidewall of my tire. I called my dad, and he told me to buck up and do it myself! Thankfully, though, a nice gentleman about my dad's age stopped and changed the flat for us. Thanks, stranger with the salt n' peppa hair. I bought him a hot coffee of thanks.
I live in the Midwest where people are friendly and kind. I have had at least three occasions when strangers stopped and helped me when I had car trouble. Twice I got my car stuck in snow, the first time, two guys in a truck stopped, pulled out a chain and a hook and towed my car back out of the ditch. The second time, it was a terrible blizzard and the man stopped his van, and then gave me a ride home. Finally, I had my car die at an intersection and three young guys stopped, helped me push my car into a parking spot and let me use their cell phone to call AAA. This all happened over the course of 20 years, so don't think I'm such a terrible driver.
my car died in the middle of the freeway as well, i didn't even think about getting out to push it to the side (that sounds dangerous). i just called triple a and eventually a copy pulled up behind me and pushed my car with her car to the side.
Yes, that would be me the crazy gal who decided to put her car in neutral (I've always had a manual transmission car), get out an push in heels and a dress. Good thing there was no draft on that hot day! :-) Glad everyone can relate and like the story!
I think this really shows that you should treat people how you would want to be treated. Clearly, all those people didn't want to be helped if it was their car that broke down.
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