small acts of kindness

[theHighwayman]

tdays paper --
DEAR ABBY: From time to time you print letters about acts of kindness, and I'd like to relate one I witnessed:
I was working as a cashier in a grocery store. An elderly woman came through my line with about 10 items in her basket, including some strawberries and shortcakes. Making small talk, I commented on how nice the berries looked. She agreed, and informed me that they were a li...ttle treat for herself. She said she didn't have much on her late husband's pension.

When I told her the total, her face fell and she asked me to take the strawberries and shortcakes off because she couldn't afford them. I was sad and embarrassed for her. I thought about buying them myself, but had no cash on me and wasn't sure if it might violate a store policy. She paid for the remainder of her items and went outside to rest on a bench before walking home.
I began scanning the next customer's items while trying to put out of my mind the sadness I felt at the lady's disappointment. My customer asked me why the lady hadn't taken her strawberries. I explained and continued totaling the woman's sale.

The woman then told me to include the strawberries -- not for herself, but for the lady outside. She wanted no praise or thanks and asked me to give them to the lady.

I took them to the lady on the bench and explained that the woman in line behind her had purchased them for her. She looked down at the strawberries, tucked them into her bag and began to cry, murmuring about the kindness of strangers. I went back inside and had to explain to the next 15 minutes' worth of customers in my line why I was crying.

The woman who bought the strawberries never saw how grateful the lady was, nor how touched I was, or my co-workers and other customers were -- not only by her kindness, but her humility in making her gift anonymous. She affected so many people that day, I hope those reading this letter will affect and influence many more. -- INDIANA READER

Some years ago *I* was sitting in my SAR rig, waiting in line for my order at the local Jack in the Box, when I noticed a nicely dressed littl old lady loitering in the vicinity of the pickup window. As I watched, the vehicle ahead of me pulled out and she swooped in and picked up a few coins that had been dropped from previous transactions and then, seeing me observin her, she began to walk away, crossing the street -- as I completed my transaction and recieved my food and change I contemplated what I'd witnessed and followed her into the parkin lot of an abandoned Hollywood video store, where I asked what she was doing -- embarresed, she told me that she was living on social security -- her rent had recently been raised -- and she had almost no money for food! -- well -- I gave her that that I had just purchased, and a $20 bill besides -- she broke down in tears --

this coulda been *anybody's* grandmother! she wasn't a "bum" I'm just sayin -- it don't take much to make a difference -- let's DO so folks!

[windyscotty]

"...it don't take much to make a difference -- let's DO so folks!"

Thankyou for this important message. We need to give freely and not expect anything in return. The rewards on this earth and in heaven for acts of kindness are great. God sees it when others do not. People who give of themselves are the real heroes in life.

I have learned that sometimes just a smile can make a difference in someones life. I had a person tell me once that they were ready to kill themself, because life had depressed them so much. But because I took time to smile, care about them and listen to their problems, they chose life. It happened on a park bench, and I will never forget it.

The givers in this world are an inspiration to me and give me hope to keep on keepin' on. The power of the human spirit can not be denied even in the darkest of times.

[Oregon Sunny Girl]

I agree. Thanks for these stories.

[windyscotty]

The Big Act of Kindness is none other than H-man, himself. He is the type of person that I am talking about, who inspires me, because he lives every moment of his life helping others.

That is a spiritual thing for one who has gained a higher consciousness. Thankyou H-man for all that you do and may you keep on truckin' right up that highway to heaven. That dog will be with you, too!

[skibum4ever]

A friend of mine started an on-line column called "Heroic Stories" which allows readers to contribute true stories of "small acts of kindness" and the difference they can make in someone's life. Most of the stories are quite good, and a few have made me cry. It's free to subscribe and be inspired. Check it out at

http://www.heroicstories.org/

[theHighwayman]

A friend of mine started an on-line column called "Heroic Stories" which allows readers to contribute true stories of "small acts of kindness" and the difference they can make in someone's life. Most of the stories are quite good, and a few have made me cry. It's free to subscribe and be inspired. Check it out at

http://www.heroicstories.org/

highly recomended

Put a link to her site on my snowchains site YEARS ago I did -- thinkin bout it now, I'm gonna add a link to Heroic Stories on my San Diego Highwayman sites as well

always look forward to new stories of hers --------------

now, lessin it gits bumped by somethin more *important* ya'll watch CBS nightly news on June 8th and see if ya recognize someone "On the Road" w Steve Hartman [ last Tuesday, I got to "make a difference" for several folk -- & one leetil gal in particular -- recorded for posterity and CBS by OGC -- One Great Cameraman -- Les ]



an Thx "windy" -- I believe doin what I do helps keep me on the "RIGHT side o the grass" went out t-DAY and had onea my "better" days as well

[theHighwayman]

here's somethin to ponder l

The Mayonnaise Jar and the Two Cups of Coffee


When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the Mayonnaise Jar ... and the Two
Cups of Coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very
large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed it that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
Mayonnaise Jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the
open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if
the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the
Mayonnaise Jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He
asked once more if the Mayonnaise Jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous "Yes".


The professor then produced Two Cups of Coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the Mayonnaise Jar, effectively filling
the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

"Now", said the professor, as the laughter subsided. "I want you to
recognize that this Mayonnaise Jar represents your life".

The golf balls are the important things - Your God, Your Family, Your

Children, Your Health, Your Friends and Your Favourite Passions - Things

that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would

still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like - Your Job, Your

House, Your Car.

The sand is everything else - The Small Stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first", he continued, "There is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play
with you children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your
partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to
clean the house and take the garbage out.

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set
your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Two Cups of
Coffee represented?

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you
that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a
couple of Cups of Coffee with a friend"

[theHighwayman]

Wellllll -- looks like I got *kicked* by a horse -- a racehorse that is --

ah well

my own fault fer tellin folks bout it aforehand --

tomorrow's anuther day ----------

never know what's jist around the corner -----------------

[theHighwayman]

Came around the curve from SB SR163 to NB I-5 to see 2 vehicles on the RS -- BMW *on* the fog line w a LR FT and a young fella attempting to set a jack -- ON THE FOG LINE !!!! fella layin in the traffic lane to do so!!!! other vehicle a small pickup ahead of the BMW fully on the RS and relatively safe,
I cannot safely stop w-out causin a TC so I continue on down the next off ramp -- manuver thr...u traffic in littl Italy to git back up on SB I-5 from where I transition to NB SR163 -- to Robinson off ramp - coming back SB and transitioning to NB I-5 agin -- LIT UP with everything I have, rear facing, as I came around the curve -- fully expecting to see a serious injury or fatality crash on reachin the scene agin --

Luckily, in my absence, the fella in the pickup had persuaded the BMW driver to move his vehicle fully onto the RS -- WHEW!

Landed safely behind both of em and shut off ALL of my lights to the rear so as to not distract drivers passin by -- made short work of changin the BMW's FT for the young fella after admonishing him a littil bout where he had stopped initally -- WHEW! he and his VERY pregnant GF were right gratefull to be under way agin

Then, I started to repack my gear, prior to launchin, only to hear the second driver holler "I need help TOO please!"

I had *thought* the pickup driver had stopped to help the BMW driver but what, in fact, had happened was that the pickup driver had hit an object in lanes that blew his RF tire and the BMW had apparently hit the same object and blew it's LR tire.

Well, no worries, got the pickup fixed up as well and safely under way

btw -- *both* vehicle's spare tires were FLAT from not havin been checked over time -- luckily my air tank is large

So then, I decided, to manuver thru Littl Italy agin -- to SB I-5 to NB SR163 to WB I-8 headin for the dogpark for Shela as we've been out now for a while -- it's nearta 11:30 am as I flash by in the #1 lane and catch a glimpse of a fella on the RS JEO the Hotel Circle South OR - I don't see him in time to git to him so I haveta manuver thru and over 5 lanes to take the OR and double back to return WB

pull up behind him -- it appears he's got a FT as he's positioned his jack under the car BUT-- he's got it dead center under the FRONT of the car! ??

Well, he don't have a FT -- he'd run outta gas -- at SIX AM this mornin! and been battlin circumstances ever since! Walked miles to purchase gas [ 1 gallon can ] car wouldn't start on 1 gallon as it was on an angled shoulder -- he'd pushed the car to different angles [ no effect ] and he was trying to use the jack to shift the gas in the tank so the pump would pick it up and start --

Nearta got emotional as I told im I had fuel for him and all he had to do in return was to "pass it on"

Onea my *really* BETTER days t-day!

[theHighwayman]

well now,

jist got a call from New York

seems like CBS Evening News "On The Road with Steve Hartman" series is gonna have a story somea ya might know -- if ya have an interest --

Shela says WUFF!!

got a few *new* incident stories here as well --

http://snowchains.tripod.com/sandiegohi ... linediary/

new incidents nearta every day -- but I don't keep track of all ofem -- jist the unique, odd, or exceptional ones now

incureable

[Biker395]

Been getting behind reading your tales, Highwayman. So some guy was essentially laying down on the pavement in the slow lane, trying to change a tire? Coly Hrap!

Make sure you tell us when your on the air, eh?

[theHighwayman]

yup -- I was *stunned* to see that, and fully expected to come up on a fatality when I came back around the second time -- why I had everything "LIT" as I came around the curve ---- fella was shot w luck - if not experience -- he knows better now

it's *this* friday nite biker

[2NAKLLR]

Hey Highwayman, yer famouser!
Just saw you on the CBS Evening News w/ Scott Pelley. That's national, man!

Good piece on yer pay it forward ethos. RIP Beulah.

[skibum4ever]

I wish I had read about this earlier today.

Highwayman, will the show be repeated, or can it be viewed on the Internet?

[theHighwayman]

thx 2NA

skibum -- here ya go -- http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-5 ... -highways/

GOOD onyas