It's Sunday and time for Sunday Favorites, where Chari, from Happy to Design allows participants to share an old blog post with readers, while still taking Sunday off, by reposting an old post.
Years ago, as an over the road truck driver, I collected a few thoughts and stories from my journeys and travels. In my Sunday Favorites posts, I am sharing some of those stories.
This one is called:
How Do You Get There?
It was late April 1999, when I stopped at a gas station just outside Buttonwillow, California.
I was hopelessly lost, and decided to stop and ask for directions. (Yeah, I know, guys aren't supposed to ask directions, but I did it anyway. I hope they don't kick me out of the guy club.)
As I got out, I noticed a Sheriff's deputy parked by the gas pumps, cleaning his windshield. I walked over, atlas in hand, and told him where I was trying to go. He smiled, as if it didn't bother him that a guy was humiliating himself by admitting that he needed directions, and showed me on my map, where I was, and where I needed to go. I jokingly told him that if I had known that he was cleaning windshields, I would have parked closer. He laughed and I went inside to get a Coke and take care of some personal business.
When I came out, there was the deputy, standing on my running board, cleaning my windshield.
How often do we look at cops as the bad guys? The one who we have to look out for, and avoid, yet here he was, in full uniform, using a squeegee on my windshield. There was no reason for him to do this. I certainly didn't expect it, and would never have given it another thought had he simply got in his car and driven away. Yet by this one simple act of kindness and generosity, he indelibly imprinted himself in my mind. What a nice thing to do, I thought.He not only gave me driving directions, but with one simple act, he gave me an example to follow as well.
I hope that from time to time, in chance encounters with strangers, I can leave a positive impression like that cop left on me. I hope that years from now, the stranger who passed me on the way will remember me and say. "What a nice thing to do."
Be sure and join me each Tuesday for Tuesday Trivia Tie-in, where readers are invited to share trivia and show off their treasures.
I apologize in advance to any anonymous posters. Because of the large amount of SPAM I was getting, I had to block anonymous comments.
Sorry,
Troy
Hey Troy!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post about the police! I just noticed last month that a policeman moved to a farm about 2 miles from me. I live on a country road and I do speed. Did I just say that? I only speed on the country road though. Now I have to be on the look out to make sure that I don't get a ticket! lol
I wonder what the protocal is about that?
That is a good Pay It Forward moment. How nice for you to get a chance to do that.
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes we forget that police are just like us! Just another guy or gal. Doing their job. I think he took your remark and made it a nice gesture. Thanks for the story!
ReplyDeleteHi Troy,
ReplyDeleteI know exactly where Buttonwillow is as I live in Shafter just a few miles down the road. And I'm almost positive that deputy was from the Kern Co. Sheriffs Dept and I am so proud to say that my baby brother is a Kern Co. Sheriff's Dept Deputy and that's just how those guys are. They're awesome and wonderful and everyday they go out and put their life on the line for people like you and me...and now apparently on top of that, they do windows...lol.
I'll definitely forward this post to my baby brother. Thank you Troy!
Hi Troy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool story! I love to find the unexpected in people. I really love what you say in your heading about boycotting the recession. When I look around me, a single person with a part-time job and a car payment and credit card payments and this huge phone bill I still see that I have everything I need and refuse to suffer from the economy's woes. I always tell people to stop worrying and start living! Have a great Sunday! Sherry
Hi Troy...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story to share with us today for Sunday Favorites, my friend! Very heart warming! It reminded me of the commercials on TV that they have been running the last few months about people stopping do to something nice and helpful for someone...and then that very person does the same for someone else! Pay it forward...Random acts of kindness...whatever you want to call it, warms my heart to see people still thoughtful and thinking of others!!! Wow...I'm just so very impressed with that policeman...washing your windows! Yes, it's these kind and unexpected acts that certainly make an impression! Like you, I hope that I will be remembered for doing something little extra and special for someone!!! Great story, Troy!
Sure is a "small world" isn't it? I just read Alicia's comment about her brother working for the police force in Buttonwillow! Totally awesome!!!
Have a super Sunday, my friend!
Chari @Happy To Design
Troy, What a nice thought. It would have been so easy for him to go on his way, but he saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. How often do we just go on our way and ignore those opportunities. Linda
ReplyDeleteI think we tend to forget that cops are people too. That was a nice gesture on his part and you were right to stop and ask for direction. I think we need to occasionally in life and not just when traveling! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTroy, I've been LOVING these truckin' stories you've been telling us. Makes me want to climb in a cab with a trucker and just ride along!! We had friends in our last community who were truckers, and they had some stories to tell too. Maybe one day I'll tell one of THEIR tales over at my place - - - just for you. :-)
ReplyDelete