ACTS OF KINDNESS Bus-stop ‘angel’ lightens load in distressing time
We’ve asked for your stories regarding what you feel have been acts of kindness in your life. Here are some of those stories: Last summer when my elderly mother had a serious fall, I rushed to get to the hospital. I arrived at the Hillside at Blanshard bus stop frantic with worry. Sitting there was a First Nations woman, her two-wheeled shopping cart by her side. I hadn’t seen her there before. She greeted me with a huge warm smile.
As I waited, consumed with dark thoughts, she engaged me in simple light chatter. In no time she had me actually laughing. By the time I caught my bus, I was in a far lighter mood then when I had arrived.
Every day for the next three weeks played out the same. There she’d be waiting at the bus stop. And every time, she elevated my mood with her chit chat.
A few days after my mom came home, this woman vanished; I haven’t seen her since. I never learned her name, let alone got a chance to thank her for making a dark time easier to bear.
Whoever you are, you were an angel. Thank you.
Cabbie dispatches missing glasses
On March 11, my husband and I had a long day of travel from California. We took a taxi home from the airport and my husband inadvertently left his glasses in the car.
We phoned Yellow Taxi, but, without a taxi number, we were told we would need to wait until Monday and check with lost and found.
An hour later, there was a knock at our door. There was the taxi driver, who said his name was Mohammed. He had found the glasses and figured they belonged to my husband. He wouldn’t accept a tip and said he just wanted to make sure the glasses were returned.
Plumber helps out after bad tumble
Last October I caught my toe while crossing the Admiral’s Walk parking lot. When it became apparent a fall was inevitable, I was concerned about my wrists and knees, and was shocked to end up doing a full face plant.
Blood everywhere. Concerned people all around. A gentleman from the coffee shop brought me a chair, someone else a bag of ice, offers to call an ambulance, someone a phone.
Devon, the plumber, was my hero. He helped me up, retrieved his first aid kit, cleaned me up, drove me home in my car and even checked back the next day to see if I was OK. I’m very grateful to the many kind people who helped me.
Kathleen Hilborn