Around Halloween, 1991, there was a record-breaking snow storm in the Midwest. I was a college sophomore, and had decided — well before the storm began — that I was going to drive the four hours home to visit a boyfriend and attend a party. I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, so I left my dorm alone. Just me and my huge old car.

There were fewer and fewer cars on the road as I went south, and the snowfall got heavier. At one point, I heard on the radio that all but emergency traffic was being asked to stay off the roads. This was well after dark… Of course, being young and stupid, I kept going.

About 20 minutes outside of my hometown, my front driver’s side tire blew, and made a sound like an explosion. I managed to hold the steering wheel and pulled off into a construction zone. Shaking, I got out of the car and looked at the damage. I popped the trunk and — this is how big the car was — had to crawl into it to pull the spare out. I got out the jack, and hoped I could figure out how to do this, since no one had ever taught me.  And it was still snowing, really heavily.

Before I could even get everything out, another car pulled over and two older men got out. They asked me if I was ok, and offered to help. Together, they changed my tire for me and drove off with a wave, without ever telling me their names. I think one might have been a preacher of some type.

I got home safely, thanks to those two nameless heroes.

Whoever you are, if you’re out there, thank you. I’ve since learned to change a tire by myself and have passed your kindness forward.

Around Halloween, 1991, there was a record-breaking snow storm in the Midwest. I was a college sophomore, and had decided — well before the storm began — that I was going to drive the four hours home to visit a boyfriend and attend a party. I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, so I left my dorm alone. Just me and my huge old car.

There were fewer and fewer cars on the road as I went south, and the snowfall got heavier. At one point, I heard on the radio that all but emergency traffic was being asked to stay off the roads. This was well after dark… Of course, being young and stupid, I kept going.

About 20 minutes outside of my hometown, my front driver’s side tire blew, and made a sound like an explosion. I managed to hold the steering wheel and pulled off into a construction zone. Shaking, I got out of the car and looked at the damage. I popped the trunk and — this is how big the car was — had to crawl into it to pull the spare out. I got out the jack, and hoped I could figure out how to do this, since no one had ever taught me.  And it was still snowing, really heavily.

Before I could even get everything out, another car pulled over and two older men got out. They asked me if I was ok, and offered to help. Together, they changed my tire for me and drove off with a wave, without ever telling me their names. I think one might have been a preacher of some type.

I got home safely, thanks to those two nameless heroes.

Whoever you are, if you’re out there, thank you. I’ve since learned to change a tire by myself and have passed your kindness forward.

(It is Halloween night, and as my friends and I are high school students, we figure that this is the last year that we will be going trick-or-treating. We decide to wait until the younger kids have finished their trick-or-treating before we go out, so it is quite late when we start to go up the streets of my friends’ small town. We have a great time, and eventually get to the last house, where an elderly lady lives. As she’s handing out tiny chocolate bars to my friends…)

Old Lady: “Here’s one for you, and one for you, and…” *she feels around her candy bag* “Oh, no, there doesn’t seem to be any left. Maybe I have some more in the other room. Just wait right there and I’ll be back.”

Me: “You don’t have to do that, ma’am. I’ve already got plenty as it is.”

Old Lady: “Of course I will! It’s not fair that I have enough to give to your friends and not to you.” *she goes into another room and comes back looking apologetic* “I’m so sorry, dear, I just don’t have anything left to give you. I feel so terrible.”

Me: “That’s okay, ma’am. I’m fine, really.”

Friend #1: “Yeah, we can just share ours with her anyway.”

Old Lady: *to my friends* “I know you two live just down the street from me.” *to me* “But I don’t recognize you. Do you live nearby? I could stop by tomorrow or the next day with something.”

Me: “You really don’t have to…”

Friend #2: “And she lives in [Other Town].”

Old Lady: “Oh, that is a problem. Wait! Isn’t [Other Town] where the three of you go to school?” *to [Friend #2]* “Since you live closer to me, why don’t I leave something with you to give to her when you’re at school?”

Me: “Please, ma’am, you don’t have to do all that.”

Old Lady: “Nonsense! You came here for some candy and I’ll make sure you get some!”

(No matter what I say, the lady keeps insisting while apologizing profusely for not having any candy left. On Monday at school, I meet up with Friend #2 in the hallway, who hands me a plastic bag with some cookies and a lollipop inside.)

Friend #2: “Yep. That lady came to my place yesterday with this for you. She did feel pretty bad that she couldn’t give you any candy on Halloween.”

(I never did get to thank her in person, but that old lady sure made my last ever trick-or-treat a memorable one. Thanks again!)

(Back when I was a starving college student, I managed to scrape together money to get a plane ticket home for break, mostly by living on ramen. I was on the shuttle bus from the subway station to the airport terminal and a very poorly dressed homeless man got on. It was December and he had only a long sleeve tee shirt. He was asking everyone on the bus for spare change, and was mostly being ignored. I had a few coins to give him, but not enough to really help him out. He sat down looking dejected, and a young guy went and sat next to him.)

Young Guy: “You hungry, sir?”

Man: “I just need some soup or something.”

Young Guy: “Here’s 10 bucks. And here…”

(At this, Young Guy took off his jacket, put it around the man’s shoulders, then grabbed his things and got off to catch his flight. The man was stunned, and several people were inspired to give the man a few more dollars. Whoever you are, dude, you inspired a whole bus of folks that day.)

(My mother is in the hospital and our car isn’t working. My adult son and I either have the option of taking the bus downtown and transferring to the one that goes near our house, or taking one that goes directly to our neighborhood and walking a mile to get home. Please note, it’s the dead of winter. A cab pulls up.)

Cab Driver: “Aren’t you that crossing guard? I go by your corner all the time! Get in; I’ll give you a ride!”

Me: “No, thanks, we’re okay.”

Cab Driver: “I’m going right by your corner anyway. Hop in!”

(So we did. He wouldn’t even take a tip!)