Something Nice Happened

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

I have a habit of trying to do (possibly unusual?) things to make people feel happy/good about themselves. I think there's karma in it, and maybe what happened yesterday proves that right. More about what *I* do later...but first...

We were in Tucson for a few days visiting friends, and came home yesterday. We were on I-10 east of Phoenix about 9:30 AM, and traffic was coming to a standstill. We needed to go 3-5 more miles to our next highway change. A trucker pulled to our right and motioned to me. I looked at him as if he was crazy, and we continued maybe a couple car lengths. He pulled up again and motioned, so I rolled down the window. He asked where we were going, and then told us there was a huge accident up ahead, and he'd tell us how to get off at the next offramp and go around it. He gave us simple directions, and then followed, making sure we were going the right way. When we got back on the freeway, the traffic was gone and it was wide open. What a great guy!

Now, something I did, which surprised my girlfriends. We went out to Canter's Deli at TI a few weeks ago. We do this twice a year. Anyway, as we were walking to the deli we saw a bride in full regalia and her groom walking towards us. As they got within earshot I smiled and said to her, "You look so beautiful!" and I congratulated him. My girlfriends were so surprised. But I always do this when I see brides. They are always beautiful, and it makes them happy to hear it. It costs me nothing, so why not?

I think the trucker's help was karma.

Fern

[JoAnn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoAnn]

Nice things happen to nice people, Fern...and you and Jerry are VERY nice people....and you "played it forward"

[kapish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close kapish]

Instant Karma!

Fern, that is a beautiful story. Kind words, words of encouragement and appreciation ... these don't cost us anything, but they bring a smile to someone. We feel good too, when we know we made someone's day a little better.

Thanks for sharing your story.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Kapish your avatar drives me buggy.

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

What a nice truck driver.

So you don't honk at wedding cars and yell out at the top of your voice, "DON"T DO IT!!!"?

[Jaybee Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaybee]

Fern, Good for you! I agree that Karma goes around. It's not just the bad stuff that does. Paying it forward is a lovely thing, and I'm sure you made the bride feel extra special.
A couple of times in my lift, once on Oahu, and once in PV, women have approached me to say wonderful things about me, and you can imagine, I was walking on air. I still remember the events vividly, even though the last time was a couple of years ago. Jean

[dale7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dale7]

Good things happen to good people and the trucker saw it in you.

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

Sometimes trying to do a good thing can backfire.
A few years ago when I was going through chemo treatments, I chose to not wear a wig. I usually wore baseball caps or sun hats, but it was still evident that all was not well. A stranger in a store approached me and offered support. She mentioned that she had gone through treatments herself some years previously, and offered encouragement that the time would pass quickly. I appreciated her kind gesture and decided I would "repay the favor".
The next spring I was in Costco and saw a young couple enter. They both had the instantly recognizable buzz cut. I wandered over and said something along the lines of "I've had that haircut, too" The woman replied "Yeah, isn't it great, I get it done every summer!"