Random acts of kindness

Thanks for kindness of stranger

AT my local pharmacy checkout counter, my old hands were fumbling with change when a loonie fell into the chocolate bar collection under the counter. Naturally, I looked for it.

A young man came along, questioned me and handed me a loonie, saying, "My mother is on a pension, and I know what a dollar means. The clerk is honest and knows me, and if she finds it, she will give it to me."

Now, I wouldn't have suffered without the loonie, but I was pleasantly surprised at the kindness of a stranger.

-- Joyce Frame

Bus driver a knight in shining armour

CONCORDIA bus route 1986 to 1988, I was just three or four years old, but I have never forgotten that bus driver. I don't know his name, but I remember the crinkles around his eyes when he smiled.

My mother was brave enough to flee an abusive marriage when I was just a baby so that I would never know that kind of life. Single moms and dads are well aware of how difficult life can be to schedule and how hard times can get especially around holidays.

To the rescue! The shining-eyed Winnipeg Transit Driver would always take his route break at my daycare stop so my mother had time to get off the bus, drop me off and get back on the bus to get to work.

If that wasn't enough, one Easter that angel driver had waiting for me a tiny stuffed white rabbit with a pink bow on his neck. I named him Peter, and if this message finds that driver, I want him to know that 21 or so years later, I still have that bunny, though not as white as he once was.

And I would like to thank the shining-eyed driver from the bottom of my heart.

-- Brandy Fleury

Thanks to provincial, city workers who go the extra mile

ON a warm windy day in July, my four-year-old son and I were flying our new kite in a park along Westwood Drive.

Unfortunately, we got too near a treed area. Right then, a big gust of wind "grabbed" the kite, snapping the spool and brake assembly, and the kite wound up tangled high up in a spruce tree. For weeks afterward, whenever my son and I were in the park or driving by, we would check to see whether the wind had blown our kite out of the tree, and always the answer was no.

About a month later, I happened to drive by the park and spotted a MB Hydro truck just inside the fence (stuck in the mud after many days of rain had soaked the field.) I pulled over and talked with the Hydro employee and learned that he was on his way into the park to change some light bulbs in the park's standards.

I told him about our kite incident and asked if he would be able to reach the kite to retrieve it for us. He promised to try and took my name and address.

Two weeks ago, I had a knock at the door -- my son raced to answer the door with me -- and there stood the Hydro man with our kite and a warm smile on his face.

I must have looked dazed. I have to admit that I had given up on getting our kite back by then, so when the man was at the door, I was tongue-tied. I don't even remember thanking him. But my son and I were touched by the man's thoughtfulness, and I want to say a public thank-you to him and to all our other conscientious Manitoba and city workers who go the extra mile to make life good for Winnipeg citizens.

Keep up the good work!

-- Judy Janzen-Wuerfel

Share your random act of kindness at kindness@freepress.mb.ca.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 31, 2009 A16