The Kindness of Strangers

I had a doctor's appointment off-island in Hyannis last week. And of course it turned out to be the day the whole east coast was slammed with a major storm.

The cape and islands (Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard) mostly got rain, but lots of it. Wind gusts were over 50 miles per hour. I was sure the ferry would be canceled. That happens when we get really bad "weather," as New Englanders like to say.

But fortunately the boats were still running, and, after a rocking, rolling passage, I drove off on the other side into the storm.

No off-island trip is complete without a supply run, if only because items cost so much less off-island, never mind the convenience and choice factors.

So even in the monsoon-like conditions, I stopped at Walmart, where I needed a bunch of miscellaneous crap.

When I finally got home late that evening and unpacked my stash, I discovered I had an extra Walmart bag that wasn't mine. It must've been left on that baggy carousel by whoever had been in line before me.

The bag held three clunky watches and three boxes with faux pearl jewelry, as well as three of those big plastic candy canes filled with Runts. No doubt this was someone's bag of stocking stuffers, or maybe even gifts for some kids in their life.

It wasn't as if I could drop it back at the store any time soon; I doubt I'll be off-island again before Christmas. But the next day I called the store to see if anyone had reported a missing bag. Nobody had, so they took my phone number and that was the end of it.

"Wow, this is really nice of you." The manager sounded surprised. "Not many people would call like this."

Really? I find that hard to believe. I have more than enough of my own junk; I don't need to confiscate anyone else's. I think most of us would at least drop the bag back at the store if they could.

What would you do?

Once in New Jersey, shortly after my marriage ended and my brain was not quite functioning to capacity, I left three bags of groceries underneath the cart in the parking lot. I packed up the car and drove home, where I realized pretty quickly I didn't have my fruits and veggies.

Not feeling very hopeful, I decided what the hell, and gave the store a call anyway.

Yup. Someone had brought in my bags from under the cart and left them with the manager. All my produce was there.

How surprising was that!

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by the good will of perfect strangers?

I like to think that what comes around goes around. Maybe I'm hopelessly naive, but it's a hell of a lot better than settling for cynical and bitter, don't you think?

 

 

Comments

[SuziCate]

I love it when people do the right thing. I few years back my son's wallet was stolen and a few months later he lost another wallet on vacation at the OBX. When we got back home we got a call that someone had found it and googled the name and address to find him...happens that the finder lived in our town as well and even came by to deliver the wallet. We were astounded and ever so thankful.

[Di]

A hundred years ago when I was in my very early twenties my Hubby was in the military and we were 'very' broke. I lost my wallet with our last $100 in it. A man found it, looked up the last name in the phone book... which was my in-laws phone number where I was staying while Hubby was away on military training. I got the money and the wallet back. How nice was that?

I have NEVER lost a wallet since.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

[Libby]

I am always amazed that people are amazed by kindness. I mean, isn't that just supposed to be the norm?

[Lora]

someone returned my atm card to the customer service desk in a very "urban" grocery store.

once a homeless lady asked me for money, and I said that I truly didn't have any and that's why I was walking where I was (bad neighborhood) because I didn't even have busfare, she gave me a bus token (which I slipped back in her pocket when I gave her a hug to thank her)

oh, and someone once found a $700 SIGNED pay check in my trash (the bank computer crashed so I shoved them in the shopping bag I was carrying when I left the bank and accidentally tossed them) and turned them into my work. I was working at the only pharmacy in my college town, so the pharmacist knew who the person was but wouldn't give me his name, only the group home he lived in- remember, this guy was going through my trashcans. I sent a fruit basket in thanks.

people are generally amazing.

[Mama Badger]

I'm never "amazed" when people do the right thing, but I'm always thankful.

At a large county fair, LG dropped his grammie blanket. No name, no tag, just a well loved blanket. Someone could have easily just dropped it into the trash, or draped in on a stall we might never have seen. Instead he convinced the guy singing on the stage to hold it up and make an announcement. We were quite happy he did.

And you never know, that bag might be the only things someone could afford for Christmas.

[Heather]

I'm glad you called about the extra bags, I would have done the same thing.

Now, I do believe this post started with a dr. app. AHEM! Are...you...okay?

[KLM]

I get "choked" up Every time I read or hear about somebody doing something "nice", you would like to think it would be an everyday occurance, not something you get choked up about because it's such a rare thing!!(I am hopefull it happens far more often and I just don't hear about it!)Cudos to those who take the time!

[Jan]

Ordinary, every day heroes. This is the kind of thing I was talking about in this post. I really and truly believe it happens more often than it doesn't.

[Menopausal New Mom]

I'm with you, I would have called Wal-Mart and good for you that someone turned in your groceries that day. I'm the same way when I get too much change from a cashier, always point it out. It never hurts to try to keep on the good side of karma.

[LPC]

Life is short and kindness is good. Being a jerk just isn't worth it.

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

My husband has a propensity for finding wallets and he enjoys returning them to their owners so very much.

I found a checkbook while walking one day and after several messages over a couple of months to the phone number listed, and no response, I tore it up. That one baffles me.

[Jill]

I always return stuff...here's an interesting story. My car needed to go to the shop for it's yearly tune-up when we lived in Houston. The dealership gave me a loaner for the day. As I was loading all my crap into the back, I found 10 new books on Christianity and Bible study, as well as mortgage information for a house in Miami...oh, and a case of diet coke. I checked the paperwork and guess who had been loaned the car prior to me?! Beyonce Knowles!! The Main Man called the record company and they sent someone to pick it all up...and they acted so suspicious. It was weird and a little disheartening.

[BumbleVee]

When I was waaay too young to be in charge of such things...it was my ''duty" to take cash to pay the household bills every month. I had $400 in my wallet and had walked almost two miles to town; had to pee..so stopped in at the washroom of the The BAy store. Washed my hands... walked out and down the stairs....and realized I didn't have my wallet! I just about fainted .... if I had lost that money...I may as well never go home because I would be dead. Literally. I raced back upstairs...no wallet in the bathroom. I dragged to the lost and found and reported the problem... in tears by then. The lady behind the counter said what colour was it? I said blue...and she held it aloft like the trophy it certainly was by then.... totally intact..all the money there. I cried harder and was absolutely shaking by that time..... I said thank you, thank you... who turned it in? She said... just a lady.... in my mind that was not just any lady....
Onward with my trek.... pay the coal bill... then the hardware store, ... the furniture store.... the grocery store...

[jessica]

Had left my purse in Saks the day after Christmas in NYC. Got it back and it had my entire life in it. I literally crie when they handed it to me

[Sprite's Keeper]

I remember once when my dad noticed a guy drop his wallet and he picked it up and took off after the guy to make sure he got it back. I always think back to that when I'm weighing between right and wrong.

[Jane]

You did the right thing and I'm stunned that the person you talked to was surprised. Ok, I'm not stunned -- but I want to be stunned.

[~The South Dakota Cowgirl~]

I have done the same thing, and have had people do the same for me! It always amazes me when someone is surprised by someone doing what's right.

[Kimberly]

I'd like to think that there are more people there like you than not, but I am skeptical. I find that there are an awful lot of people who are only in it for themselves, and to do something nice for someone else would never cross their mind. I might be jaded, but I think your wonderful deed is rare, even if it was simply the right thing to do.

[kathryn]

Wonderful post.

I would have done the same thing. Called and said I won't be in the area for a while, but I have someone else's stuff. I couldn't stand myself if I didn't return it. I wudn't get back in the car that day (even if it was local) but would get over there asap.

I'm continuously surprised when someone does a random act of kindness with no strings or agenda attached. I don't expect it...and I'm always grateful for it.

I prefer that much more than the dark side of all this: the people who take their own probs/frustrations out on you and you don't even know what hit you! (I had an old man curse me out yesterday 'cause he said I was following him too close. It was 1/4 of a mile and he was going 25 in a 40mph zone. I was angry but not disrespectful...and I never would have said anything if he hadn't approached me. But the words he said! Nasty! I knew this couldn't all have been from ME...)

[PLRH]

You're a good person.

The one time I left a bag in my cart at Wal-mart, then when back to look for it, someone else had taken it. No big deal since it was just some birthday cards. But I remember being more angry at myself than the person who took the bag. Strange, huh?

[Gropius]

Naive is ALWAYS better than bitter! Once my brother lost his cell phone at a rest stop, where it was run over by a semi. He got a call from a group in a church van, who had found the phone and called the number on the back. They met up with him at the next rest stop to give it back. Ooooh. How very nice.

[Joanie M]

One blustery day in March, I was opening my car door at the supermarket when the wind caught my door and slammed it into the side of the car next to me. Good honest citizen that I am, I left my name and phone number on a note apologizing for ding in her car. Boy, was that lady surprised! We had the same insurance company, so that made things easy. Did you know that a claims adjuster can check what the wind speed is on a particular time of day on a particular area?

John and I were returning form a vacation in Ocean City, MD and were to have dinner at my daughter's in Wilmington, DE. We stopped for a bite to eat and I inadvertently left my purse on the floor next to my seat at the fast food place. I didn't realize it until 2 hours later when we stopped at a store on the way to my daughter's house! I got the number for the restaurant and they had my purse in their office!! And the $200 in my wallet was still there! And the manager wouldn't take any money as a reward! How awesome is that!

[Jersey Girl]

It's a sad state of affairs when we're surprised when people do the RIGHT thing, rather than the wrong.

[Casey]

I'd like to think that would be the obvious choice but I just don't know with people these days. I always go out of my way to return the cart or open the door for people but there are a lot of rude folks here in Tampa where I live.

You ARE pretty nice to call Walmart about the missing bag. It's not mine though.