(I’ve met up with a handful of fellow students to go home for Thanksgiving break. While traveling over the mountains, the car spins out of control and smashes into the side of the road. We’re lucky to be unhurt.)

Me: “Okay, everyone out, turn the car off, and let’s see how bad it is.”

(The car is totaled and we don’t dare even turn it on for heat. Keep in mind this is in the Montana mountains during November.)

Driver: “I have AAA, but…” *checks phone* “…we’ve got no reception.”

Other Passenger: “The last exit was half an hour back.”

(After half an hour, someone pulls over. We expect the driver to offer to call AAA when he gets service, but instead…)

Stranger: “Hop in. You can all fit.”

(The random stranger gives us a ride to his town, and when he finds out we’re still far away from our homes, takes us to a hotel in his hometown. He comes back from speaking with the receptionist.)

Stranger: “Two rooms?”

Driver: “Yeah. How much?”

Stranger: “I work nearby, so you got a discount. The car will be towed right across the street; you can walk there.” *hands us all business cards* “Call me if you need anything.”

(We never saw him again. I keep his card in my wallet to remind me of that astonishing act of kindness.)

(I am walking home late at night with a pretty clingy friend of mine, who is staying over. He’s male; I’m female. He’s messing around and I’m trying not to laugh, when three rough-looking men come up to us, reeking of alcohol. My friend tucks me under his arm when he sees them.)

Guy #1: “Hey! Is this guy making you uncomfortable, girlie?”

Guy #2: “Yeah, you don’t need to go with him if you don’t want to.”

Me: *surprised and a little touched* “Oh, no, it’s fine! He’s my friend.”

Guy #3: “You sure you’re okay? We can call the cops and wait with you for them to come if you want.”

Me: “Thanks, but it’s really fine. He’s good.”

Friend: *nervously trying to lighten the situation* “Yeah, to be honest I’d be more into you than her, if it’s like that.”

(The guys are suddenly all smiles, and two of them nod and walk off again.)

Guy #3: “Good! We wanted to make sure. You never know and we’d feel bad if we saw in the papers that something happened and we could’ve helped. You two have a good night now!”

(I only lived in that area a short while, but those three men were by far the best people I met there!)

(I have health issues, and frequently need medical testing to ensure everything is okay. I’m at a hospital I’ve been to before – but not for quite a while – for yet another series of tests. This time the parking garage has signs everywhere stating CASH ONLY. I have absolutely no cash on me. When I check in, I ask the receptionist if there is an ATM so I can pay for the parking garage. Towards the end of check-in, this happens:)

Receptionist: “And keep a hold of your parking ticket – the technician can stamp it for you so you only have to pay a dollar! You may not even need the ATM!”

Me: “I don’t even have a dollar. I usually carry at least a little cash, but things came up. I’ll just use the ATM.”

(The receptionist offered to give me a dollar for the parking garage and I was floored. A little thing like that can mean a lot. I gave her all the coins in my wallet in return. Thank you!)

(One of the local grocers offers jobs to mentally handicapped residents of a local group home. One of these gentlemen has worked there for years, and he is a very conscientious bagger – everything is packaged just so. He is a very nice man, but his social filters aren’t always quite “there.” Just before my due date, I was stocking up the pantry in preparation for an expected child, and three others at home, and knowing that I wouldn’t be able to just jump in the car to pick up some cereal. After bagging my purchases – two large carts piled up – Bob looks at the trolleys, and then looks at my belly.)

Bob: “Wow! You must be really hungry!”

(The manager who was running the till gave poor Bob a look that makes me think he had to listen to another lecture on how to interact with customers, but I thought it was hilarious! Laughed all the way home. He didn’t get fired. That baby is now four years old, and she adores Mister Bob at the store. We always have to buy a pack of Starburst so she can give him the orange ones – his favorite.)

(Several years ago, my wife was on disability and I was unemployed, and finances were always tight. I had a contract job lined up that would pay $50, but I needed gas to get there and back. We went into a local store and started feeding all the loose change we could find into the self-checkout to load a gift card for gas.)

Person: “You know, there’s a change-trading machine over there.” *motions toward change-trading machine*

Me: “Yeah, I know, but they charge a fee, and I need every cent to go into the gas tank.”

Person: “Ah, I understand.”

(A moment or two later, she came over and pressed a $10 into my hand.)

Person: “Hope this helps!”

(I was so thankful, and I have never forgotten that. I do my best to pay it forward as much as I can.)