The Stranded Skateboarder, a Travel Story - Acts Of Kindness Challenge
Just came across @rebeccaryan and @natureofbeing's "Random Acts of Kindness Challenge," so I thought I'd take a quick sidetrack to share a true story from some years back. Not sure I can tell it in only 200 words, mind you...
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Dallas...
Circa 2003, I found myself on the way back to Austin, Texas after a summer vacation in my native Denmark. The journey involved a quick "hop" from Copenhagen to Amsterdam, where I was going to catch a flight to Dallas; then another short hop to Austin.
Japanese Maple in Autumn
All was going well as we boarded the super full American Airlines flight in Amsterdam. But then we sat at the gate for half an hour; then a hour. Then the captain made an announcement that there were some "hydraulic issues" that were being checked out by technicians and that we "should be underway" within another half hour.
Another hour passed, with only another brief "they are working on the problem" announcement.
After yet another hour, there was a new announcement that the aircraft could not be cleared for flight, and everyone would be put up in a local hotel till the same time next day when another aircraft would be available.
In due course, 320 people were bused to a nearby airport hotel... long lines ensued as so many people were trying to get their rooms all at once, even with six hotel agents working. Even though we didn't have to pay, we still had to be checked in, identified and put a room deposit in.
I was standing next to a young guy-- maybe 16-17-- carrying just a small backpack. He looked tired, and "roadworn"... and worried. In overhearing a bit of conversation between him and the late-20's woman next to him, his worry was that he had neither a credit card, nor 100 Euros in cash for the refundable deposit. As it turned out, neither did the Army wife he was having the conversation with.
I "inserted" myself in their conversation and suggested the hotel still might waive the deposit since the airline was paying, anyway. They held my place in line as I went to a side office to ask a concierge what happens if you don't have cash OR credit card.
Great Blue Heron in our garden
"Sorry, hotel policy. We have to have that, for security purposes."
Keep in mind this was not so long after 9/11.
A little more conversation turned out that the kid had been to a skateboarding event in India. As we stood in that hotel lobby, he'd already taken a 17-hour train journey from God-knows-where to Mumbai, followed by a ten hour flight from Mumbai to Amsterdam, and all he really wanted was to get home to Denton, Texas to SLEEP. All he had left was about $13 and a handful of Rupees.
The Army wife had been visiting her husband at Ramstein Air base in Germany and had about $40 cash and her credit card had been stolen.
For no particular reason-- other than perhaps because I've been on more cancelled flights in more countries than I care to think about-- I reached in my pocket and determined I had 210 Euros left from my own trip. Without thinking further, I handed the kid 100 Euros and said "Don't worry about it. Get some sleep." I paused for a second... then handed the other 100 to the Army wife "You too." They both started to say things to which I answered "Someday, pay it forward."
Thankfully, my credit card "cleared" when it was my turn... or I would have been up the proverbial creek. I think I might have had $103 left on it.
But to finish this story on a high note... and to show there's good in the world... both the skateboarder and the Army wife found me at the airport terminal the next day to give me back 100 Euros each.
That... I had not expected.
The above is just a very small excerpt from a very strange and mystical 48-hour journey I may write about, someday.
How About YOU? Do you have any interesting "random acts of kindness" in your life? Would you consider being part of the challenge-- and help spread some positive vibes around Steemit? Leave a comment-- share your experiences and feedback-- be part of the conversation!
To learn more about the "Random Acts of Kindness Challenge," I encourage you to either visit @rebeccaryan's explanatory post or @natureofbeing's post about the challenge.
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Published 20170802 14:13 PDT
That is a very uplifting story and I can see how much it must have meant for the two receivers.
I once landed in The States on a flight from Copenhagen when I realised that my mobile phone might not work on the network in the US. I had to call my girlfried for her to pick me up and without a phone I would not be able to reach her or my destination. Fortunately a women seated next to me offered me to use her phone in case mine did not work.
The gesture meant a lot to me!
@denmarkguy, that's a fantastic story about helping 2 complete strangers without any expectations from you in return. Equally as wonderful was that they both made a point of finding you and giving back the deposits which let them sleep safely in a hotel for the night after a long weary day of travel.
It's heartwarming. Thank you for contributing to this initiative and for promoting the challenge within your own post. I really appreciate the effort you have put into this contribution.
@natureofbeing will be a way from Steemit for a couple of days. I have noted your entry and will make sure she sees it to vote on it as soon as she can. I have resteemed.
Thanks again.
Thanks @rebeccaryan-- glad you enjoyed it. It's one of my favorite life experiences because there was a complete circle of "doing right."
I really like this particular challenge... and hope it becomes a "thing." I've been part of other "community engagement" initiatives, and it think we need to create as many of them as we can, to spread positive nergy around Steemit.
thanks so much for telling your story @denmarkguy, while traveling we all have to rely on the kindness of strangers at some point and I really love hearing about what you did here which was incredibly generous since 200 euros is quite a bit of money! Thanks for making the world a better place :-)
Thanks @natureofbeing! I love the whole idea of this challenge... and I'm all for any type of positive community engagement... hoping this becomes a "thing" here; along with "pay it forward" stories and other good things!
so great to hear!!! yes our plan is to make it a compensated contest that runs for a week every month. I like your idea of a pay it forward series as well....I'll think about this as well. many thanks to you!
Very nice story. It's amazing to me how many good people are out there. Good on you for helping out with no expectations in return.
It was just the right thing to do, in the moment... and in general, as well.
That was really kind of you to help them and that they paid you back. It's a shame that the airport made you all wait so long and then cancel your flight and ship you to hotels when you might not have money or credit cards. The kid sounded like he had a fascinating journey. I'm glad to hear he met a kind person like you to help him out. My husband often gives a few dollars to homeless people on the street. He's just a naturally nice person and if he has some spare change or dollars he's happy to give it to someone who needs it.
All things considered, it worked out quite well for everyone involved. I think kindness matters... and I honestly had no expectations that I would get anything back, so that was a pleasant surprise.
That's a pretty cool story man. We need good people like you out there. Don't ever change that way about yourself.
Thanks! It was just the right thing to do... no fun to be stranded 1000's of miles from home, when you've already been traveling for days.
Love the story, keep the good vibes coming!
Thank you!
I love this story. Wow.
A great story of kindness.
Sometimes we must take a leap of faith!
Good on you, mate!