A Random Act Of Kindness

I have always emphasized with my children never to wish a day away waiting for something better to happen...common days bring small "ordinary miracles", i think...even if it is just someone letting you in line to turn right in a traffic jam...that's a random act of kindness to be processed and appreciated, don't you think?

a long time ago (way before cell phones and instant communication) in 1987 actually,  i was rushing to go and see my oldest child play basketball...and already late i flew across Rte. 252 right into a curb...and got a flat tire...ouch... Is anyone out there surprised to know that I had (and still have) no clue how to change a tire? of course i don't...
I was right outside what was at that time the John Dupont compound where DuPont lived along with a state of the art wrestling facility and some world class, Olympic wrestlers in separate housing with their families. It was...and is...a kind of eerie place from Malin Road with just huge gates and trees for all of us non DuPonts and non wrestlers to see...but I digress...I pulled over into the entrance and as i did a really cool sports car with a young man...if asked, i would perhaps say a hottie... stopped to turn right and very specifically avoided all contact with me, my car, and most definitely my eyes. Unfortunately for this driver there was no random act of kindness for him and he had to wait to turn right...giving me enough time to walk over and tap on his window. 

"I seem to have a flat tire that I can't ride on...Is there a phone somewhere in there I can use" I asked...and he briefly looked at me and said, "not really and I am really late for an appointment..." and went back to looking for a right turn opening..."Is there a gas station near by?" I asked...knowing the answer..."You have to go up to the Pike" he said...STILL can't turn right, STILL not meeting me in the eye...and then I said...

"So, if I was your mother or your sister what would you want YOU to do?"... 

DEAD SILENCE for about 30 seconds...looks at me again...this time actually looks at me...puts the car in park and says"you got me"...as he changes my tire we laugh about my guilt trip comment and talk about our children...and he tells me he is actually on his way to pick one of his up and I probably made him late...guilt trip for me!...  and in 10 minutes flat he changes my tire..and we are both on our way! The definition of a Random Act of Kindness on a common, ordinary day...

This is an experience that has stayed with me ever since it happened...When I am in a position to perhaps "Pay It Forward" I think about that time...and then...

You may remember this...In 1996 John DuPont, heir to the DuPont fortune got in his army tank, drove across his compound to Olympic Gold Medalist Dave Schultz's house and murdered him in front of his wife. In 1997, DuPont was convicted of murdering Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler Dave Schultz the year before and sentenced to 13 to 40 years in prison. And guess who my hero was that day...Woah...Olympic gold medal AND changed my tire and got me to the game at halftime...A life to be mourned and a life to be proud of...Thank you, Dave Schultz...you are rememberd for so much more than a great headlock...