I am thankful for the kindness of strangers.
Last Wednesday, Ward and I were getting tired of work and decided we needed a break. So we loaded our old van with tarps and trash cans full the branches from our yard and started an outing to the local spot that collects yard waste.
Soon we ran into some roadwork and got stopped by a flagman. Ward put the van into park and then the fun began. First the oil light, then the battery light, then the seat belt light, and another and another light until every possible light was lit. That was the pre-show for the big event when the engine died. We were stuck. Immediately, the road workers came to help. They couldn't get the van to move, so they put cones out and directed traffic around us. While I was calling AAA, a man from the house on the other side of the road invited us to wait in his yard until the tow truck came. We accepted because the van was getting hot.
So with a warm, gentle breeze and birds singing in the background, we sat in lawn chairs in his front yard and watched the cars and roadwork in front of us. A young girl was watering flowers and filling bird feeders, and I commented on what interesting feeders they had. She said her grandfather loved all things birds, but then added, he died a week ago from COVID-19. Her grandmother, who was also outside, told us the story of how her husband got infected with the corona virus in the nursing home he where he lived. He was on his way to dialysis when he took a turn for the worse and they transported him to a hospice center instead. His wife was eternally grateful for that because she was allowed to see him and say her goodbyes. There was nothing much to say after that except how sorry we were. We sat quietly for a while and watched more roadwork as our hosts reflected on the family member they had lost.
When the construction workers were finishing for the day. they came and tried to move the van again. They wanted it to be out of the middle of the road before they took away their traffic cones. This time they were successful and the van was now on the side of the road. Hooray! Before long, the tow truck came, and after some coordination among the tow truck driver, Ward, Theo, and me; the van was at the garage and we were home safe and sound.
So what could have been a stressful afternoon, turned out to be calm and pleasant because every single person we met went out of their way to help us. So for the kindness of strangers during a difficult situation, I am very thankful.
How frustrating for you! I kinda wonder, though, if having you there to listen to the stories of loss of a loved one was a healing experience. Glad to hear of the kindness shown to you.
ReplyDeleteThere may have been some comfort for them to talk about their husband/ father/grandfather. Not only did we talk about birds, we talked about the house they had lived in and the rose bushes he bought his wife for every special occasion, among other things. I'm not sure if it helped them, but I was very touched that they could rise above their grief and offer a helping hand to us.
DeleteI'm sorry your van died on you, but, how wonderful that there were helpful strangers all around and as Kris said, maybe you being there to listen to the family members recount the story of their family member who died of this virus was healing to them. I hope your van gets repaired without a lot of trouble, expense, and inconvenience to you. Thank you for the reminder to start my car, which hasn't been started in almost a week!
ReplyDeleteOur van is fixed, however, it is still filled with yard waste and starting to stink a bit. Our county recycling center is closed and that's where we took our yard waste before the pandemic closures. However, there is a local mulch business that will take personal yard waste if they have room. They have been full since last week. We're hoping tomorrow we can do a drop off.
DeleteThe way you tell it, almost sounds like a pleasant afternoon, but I would imagine it wasn't entirely pleasant. I enjoyed your story.
ReplyDeleteWhen it first happened and we were in the middle of the road and couldn't get moved, it wasn't much fun. But as things fell into place, it actually was pleasant. People were nice and the weather was close to perfect while we were waiting outside.
DeleteThanks for sharing this, a reminder that there is still good in this world. I hope your yard waste finds a home.
ReplyDeleteAll of the kindness we were shown certainly made my day. I think there's a lot of good in the world as shown by the example of these every day people doing what every day people do.
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