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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Paying it Forward...

I was on the road shortly before 9:00 this morning.  The wind was blowing a bit, but the predicted forecast was for deteriorating weather by late this afternoon.  I also didn't want to leave any earlier so I could avoid most of the rush hour while going through Kansas City.  Things went smoothly until I was merging onto
I-435.  Traffic was heavy and because of the merge, I was in the left hand lane when suddenly a two foot long piece of flat steel was laying across the left hand side of my lane.  I tried to avoid it, but couldn't move too far or quickly as it was on a curve, and you just don't do wild movements with a 30' rig towing a car.  The front tire missed it, but I guess the back tire caught it as I heard a thud and saw the piece of steel going flying off the road into the median.  I thought I was okay, but about a mile down the road people began honking their horns and wildly flailing their arms.  As soon as I was safely able, I moved over two lanes and pulled off on the shoulder.  One of the beeping cars pulled over ahead of me.

As the young man got out of his car and headed for my rig, I staggered out the door shaking like a leaf!  I didn't know what to expect.  It turned out that the piece of steel had shot back into the driver's side of the toad through the bumper and had apparently sliced the tire.  By the time I was able to stop, the tire had been shredded and I was driving on the rim.  As I looked at it, my head was swimming.  :(  I needed to figure out what to do on this very busy interstate.  The young man asked if I had a spare tire, and I said yes, one of those little donuts.  He then proceeded to change the tire, and asked me to follow him so he could lead me to a Walmart that sold tires a few miles away.  He warned me not to go to the left off of the highway as it was a rather unsavory neighborhood.

How blessed I was this morning that this young Good Samaritan not only stopped to help me, but lead me to a place where I could purchase a new tire.   He also volunteered to stay with me until the fix was accomplished, but I told him I thought I could handle it from there.  As I tried to thank him for his kindness, he told me he was just "paying it forward."  He hoped that if he needed help in the future, someone would stop for him.  I never even got his name.  I'm guessing that he was probably in his early thirties.  His mother should be very proud of him!  I was and am very moved by his kindness. 

I hope we all remember to "pay it forward," it can mean so much to someone in need.... Nothing else seems worth mentioning tonight after this experience.

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy

10 comments:

  1. So glad you're OK.

    Yes, there are still great people out there that are willing to help someone, but you never hear about them on the news.

    Take care,

    Jim

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  2. Thank God for good people, he went out of the way to extend a kindness to a single woman traveler, I remember as a boy I was with some older male co-workers and we stopped for a lunch, I was to say the least finacially embarrassed and while I was scanning the menu for something in the 30 cent bracket , one of the men who was as old as my grandfather, sensed the problem and said, are you a little short, here take this and handed me a dollar,I had a great lunch and after payday I went to return the dollar , and he refused it saying someday in life you will be able to pass it along to someone else in need. A lesson in life I never forgot, and yes I have many times been able to return that kindness. God Bless that young man. Be Safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  3. That young man didn't know when he pulled over that I was a female traveling alone. One of his first questions was "Are you all by yourself?" I think he would have stopped no matter who had the problem. It was a privilege to meet him. I know good things will come his way. :)

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  4. What a wonderful, heartwarming story, Judy. May we all "pay it forward."

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  5. I'm glad someone is watching over you.. Since I can't be everywhere in the world following you, it's good someone is. I can't imagine what could have happened if he didn't help you. I love you Mom.. stay safe *tear*

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  6. Glad all was well in the long run. I hope he never need help, but if he does, that he will get it.

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  7. Thanks so much for sharing this story. Did my heart good to hear you were okay AND that there are still people like your young man in the world today. And I am just loving your bird pictures and stories.
    Deanna

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  8. Glad it turned out okay, and what a nice story of kindness in a world that often seems so indifferent.

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  9. Thank goodness that young man stopped. I am always glad to hear good news that happens.

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  10. Wow, scary for sure. It comforts me that there are still people out there that will help others. He went above and beyond "paying it forward".
    Glad things turned out okay.

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