Your story is awesome! And the photos - wow! Good thing that trucker had batteries! And how about that National Guard! A lot of kindness, comradery and cooperation going on in the middle of a snow storm. Thank you so much for sharing the link.
I love the way you always find the good, Heather. The day's events would have really stressed some people out, but not you! The ice cream didn't melt, you can use the extra gravy next week, and I am sure you already have more wine on your shopping list. It is all good. Thanks for the inspiration, as always. ( My little story about kindness comes out tomorrow - not as good as yours, but I was thinking about KM and you as I wrote it.)
We split time between Prescott, AZ and Oceanside, CA. And you're right, that parking lot was full of kind energy.
I like your car names. More original than mine, which have always been some version of 'Spark'. Bill's car is Viola. She would probably have been friends with Louise!
I imagine you as a kind and caring person. It shows in your writing.🖋
Hey Heather, be careful about asking some if they could use a hand, because the last time I asked that question, it ended up being the dumbest question I ever asked:
Btw, I sometimes name my cars, especially the little economy cars I’ve owned over the years to drive from here to Boise, because we live more than an hour and a half away from the nearest Walmart, which isn’t a bad thing.
So the first car I named was a mangy little Geo Metro, which was almost the size of a recycling bin. I immediately thought it should be a Carl, because I noticed a lot of guys who do ham radios or paint game miniatures drove Geos, and they were usually named Carl.
The next car I named was a little red Honda Insight hybrid, which was an odd looking little car. I think my son described it as “butt ugly,” which is probably more extreme and a little less kind than my own opinion. It looked more like a sow bug, so I named it Fred the Red Sow Bug, or Fred for short.
Your story about 'lend me a hand' was heart warming....and a little funny too! It definitely wasn't a dumb question....although at the time it may have seemed like poor timing for a handout...😁
I have a good friend named Carl....he's more of an old mustang kind of guy. The only Fred I am familiar with was Fred Rogers....and not exactly 'familiar', but I loved him just the same. I probably would have felt that way about your little 'butt ugly' Honda too.
Thanks for reading, Mr. Switter....and for your thought, which are always appreciated.
Well, my friends, when I told them about about the Handless Guy incident, all it agreed that it was my lifetime achievement award for the most inappropriate (and dumbest) thing I’ve said so far, and I have reasons to believe they keep lists. They said when I receive my lifetime achievement award, “Hey Mister, Do You Need a Hand” will be engraved on one of those $6 bowling trophies.
I can think of other 'dumb' things, depending on the situation. Like, "Do you need a leg up" (you know where that one is going), or "You can see where I'm going with this"(could be so inappropriate). So, Mr. Switter, there are many dumb things that we say when we are meaning to be kind. The good news is, when the intent is right, we can usually laugh about it. 😁
I am so recovered I don’t know how to act. Everything about it was wonderful, but some parts were even more wonderful, including getting back my African roots. Those beautiful, hopeful kids I met made me think new, refreshed thoughts about Mother Africa. Watch out world, because those kids are going to help make the world a better place for all of us.
And believe it or not, I wrote a little piece on my substack called “These are Our Children, World” before I met the kids at NEWSTART:
Speaking of inappropriate responses, when my old guy broke his shoulder a couple of years ago after falling from the roof of a horse trailer he was repairing, one of his logging buddies showed up at the hospital to visit.
“How did you get here?” the friend asked.
“In a Ford pickup,” my old guy replied.
“Well, you’ll leave here in a Cadillac,” his friend said, in the tradition of Job’s comforters in the Bible story. You can guess the kind of Cadillac the friend had in mind: one of those black, long, Cadillac station wagons.
Your story is beautiful. We may not all be able to go help in Africa, but there are plenty of ways we can make a difference right in our own back yard.
This was great. So many parts I loved including the “dozen other necessities” and the Peets coffee, but mostly the kindness of strangers. I kinda kinda loved this.
Oh Mitch, I always love your comments!
I'm so glad your Thanksgiving was fantastic. And your Eagles continue on a roll!
Your 2009 Blizzard story sounds amazing. It sounds like there were a lot of kind people involved!
I also love your story about helping a stranger who was stranded. You stepped up when someone was in need and said, "Need some help?"
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I am so grateful to have 'met' you!
Your story is awesome! And the photos - wow! Good thing that trucker had batteries! And how about that National Guard! A lot of kindness, comradery and cooperation going on in the middle of a snow storm. Thank you so much for sharing the link.
I love the way you always find the good, Heather. The day's events would have really stressed some people out, but not you! The ice cream didn't melt, you can use the extra gravy next week, and I am sure you already have more wine on your shopping list. It is all good. Thanks for the inspiration, as always. ( My little story about kindness comes out tomorrow - not as good as yours, but I was thinking about KM and you as I wrote it.)
I'm looking forward to your kindness story! I know it will be awesome!
This is so excellent. Good sermon material. We are in Carmel remembering your kindnesses to us here. Love ❤️
Bill and I were just looking at a beach wedding photo of you this past week. It was a beautiful day in Carmel for a wedding!
Great story Heather! Oceanside is such a lovely place. I love that so many people offered to help! Kindness is everywhere!
Thank you, Pamela. You're right. There are a lot of good people out there. Sometimes it takes a situation like I had to remember that.
Where do you live? Everyone is so helpful. I do believe that kindness attracts the like but that parking lot was a Kindness Magnet. ❤️
I named my car too. Bruce or Duke. Still deciding on this one. When the kids were growing up we had Louise. Good times with her. She saw a lot.
Thanksgiving was Friendsgiving since we have no family here. It was lovely.
I love helping people and animals wherever possible.
Great story. ❤️
We split time between Prescott, AZ and Oceanside, CA. And you're right, that parking lot was full of kind energy.
I like your car names. More original than mine, which have always been some version of 'Spark'. Bill's car is Viola. She would probably have been friends with Louise!
I imagine you as a kind and caring person. It shows in your writing.🖋
Thanks for reading along. 🙂
I love Sparkle or Spark. And Viola! The Shakespeare character or the instrument? Viola and Louise— besties ready to rev.
His grandmother! She would be so proud lol!
Hey Heather, be careful about asking some if they could use a hand, because the last time I asked that question, it ended up being the dumbest question I ever asked:
https://switters.substack.com/p/hey-mister-can-you-lend-me-a-hand
Otherwise, solid advice as usual!
Btw, I sometimes name my cars, especially the little economy cars I’ve owned over the years to drive from here to Boise, because we live more than an hour and a half away from the nearest Walmart, which isn’t a bad thing.
So the first car I named was a mangy little Geo Metro, which was almost the size of a recycling bin. I immediately thought it should be a Carl, because I noticed a lot of guys who do ham radios or paint game miniatures drove Geos, and they were usually named Carl.
The next car I named was a little red Honda Insight hybrid, which was an odd looking little car. I think my son described it as “butt ugly,” which is probably more extreme and a little less kind than my own opinion. It looked more like a sow bug, so I named it Fred the Red Sow Bug, or Fred for short.
Your story about 'lend me a hand' was heart warming....and a little funny too! It definitely wasn't a dumb question....although at the time it may have seemed like poor timing for a handout...😁
I have a good friend named Carl....he's more of an old mustang kind of guy. The only Fred I am familiar with was Fred Rogers....and not exactly 'familiar', but I loved him just the same. I probably would have felt that way about your little 'butt ugly' Honda too.
Thanks for reading, Mr. Switter....and for your thought, which are always appreciated.
Well, my friends, when I told them about about the Handless Guy incident, all it agreed that it was my lifetime achievement award for the most inappropriate (and dumbest) thing I’ve said so far, and I have reasons to believe they keep lists. They said when I receive my lifetime achievement award, “Hey Mister, Do You Need a Hand” will be engraved on one of those $6 bowling trophies.
Maybe I need better class of friends.
Ha ha ha ha!
I can think of other 'dumb' things, depending on the situation. Like, "Do you need a leg up" (you know where that one is going), or "You can see where I'm going with this"(could be so inappropriate). So, Mr. Switter, there are many dumb things that we say when we are meaning to be kind. The good news is, when the intent is right, we can usually laugh about it. 😁
Have you recovered from your spa days?
I am so recovered I don’t know how to act. Everything about it was wonderful, but some parts were even more wonderful, including getting back my African roots. Those beautiful, hopeful kids I met made me think new, refreshed thoughts about Mother Africa. Watch out world, because those kids are going to help make the world a better place for all of us.
And believe it or not, I wrote a little piece on my substack called “These are Our Children, World” before I met the kids at NEWSTART:
https://switters.substack.com/p/these-are-your-children-and-my-children
Speaking of inappropriate responses, when my old guy broke his shoulder a couple of years ago after falling from the roof of a horse trailer he was repairing, one of his logging buddies showed up at the hospital to visit.
“How did you get here?” the friend asked.
“In a Ford pickup,” my old guy replied.
“Well, you’ll leave here in a Cadillac,” his friend said, in the tradition of Job’s comforters in the Bible story. You can guess the kind of Cadillac the friend had in mind: one of those black, long, Cadillac station wagons.
Eeeee, now THAT's inappropriate!
Your story is beautiful. We may not all be able to go help in Africa, but there are plenty of ways we can make a difference right in our own back yard.
Heartwarming. Real kindness, deeply embedded in human'kind'. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you. There are many kind people in the world. We just need to shout it out!
I truly love stories of kind random strangers. This little story was planned by the universe just to make sure you were thankful for Thanksgiving 😊😊
Oh, great point, Kristi. I love when the universe aligns!
This was great. So many parts I loved including the “dozen other necessities” and the Peets coffee, but mostly the kindness of strangers. I kinda kinda loved this.
Aw, thanks, Jill. I feel pretty sure you would have supported Bill buying some more Peets!