MYSTERY SOLVED... You might recall the column about the two mystery men who went the extra mile -- and then some -- for a couple from North Carolina who got lost driving from the airport to the Fort Garry Hotel.
Marilyn and Bob Rikard contacted me later to praise the local heroes who -- after the couple asked for directions -- escorted them from Wellington Crescent all the way to the hotel, one leading the way in his car and the other travelling behind them in his.
James Thompson (left) and Bret Dobbin helped lost visitors.
Marilyn didn't get their names, which in my experience is standard when one stranger shocks another stranger with an act of kindness.
Oh, but we know who they are now.
How?
An e-mail arrived last week that solved the mystery, although it began with an equally mysterious title:
"Goosebumps. "
"Gordon,
"I'm catching up on my (Free Press) reading and can honestly say I got 'feel-good' goosebumps when I read your 01/May/2008 column (Acts of kindness are what Winnipeg is all about).
"I was the guy who gladly led the way from Wellington Crescent to Fort Garry Hotel (she seemed to be frustrated as I was explaining directions so I then simply said, 'follow me' and took off before they could decline my offer)... Thought I'd show some genuine 'northern hospitality' to a charming 'southern belle.'"
The writer then went on to explain why he had contacted me.
"I share this with you not for accolades (which is why I didn't bother giving the visitors my name) but for two other reasons:
"Firstly, when I arrived in Winnipeg as a university graduate 25 years ago, someone was kind enough to drive me to a certain destination when I was lost and so I promised myself I'd do the same for others (I find myself doing this about once a year now).
"Secondly, I've always promised myself that I would be proud of my adopted city (she may have mentioned that en route to the Fort Garry, I drove them through the legislative grounds and pointed out The Forks as well) as it seems Winnipeggers themselves rarely are.
"When I'm back in Toronto on business, or in Ottawa for politics, or in Calgary to see family, or Vancouver for clients, I find myself bragging more about Winnipeg than long-time, born-and-bred Winnipeggers do. It's the one thing I don't understand about this city's citizens.
"Anyway, nice to see Marilyn and Bob were happy during their visit.
Cheers,
Bret Dobbin."
Bret added a P.S. in a followup e-mail.
The identity of the other guy who also helped out.
His name is James Thompson.
By the way, I forwarded Bret's e-mail to Marilyn down North Carolina way.
And you know how she reacted, of course.
No?
She wrote back to say she got goosebumps reading Bret's e-mail.
Yikes.
Maybe it's contagious.
Kindness, I mean.
CUTE KID QUIPS: THE SEQUEL . . . Bev Hutchison read Saturday's column about the precious things kids say and decided to pass along her own submission.
It happened Monday at breakfast.
Bev was organizing the family's day. Getting the cereal out -- bowl, spoon the works -- for 10-year-old Zach, while trying to feed four-year-old Hannah, too.
Which, as Bev reported, led to the following exchange:
Hannah: "Hey mom, where's my bowl?"
Mom: (distracted, trying to get lunches done) "Hannah, its on the counter, help yourself."
Hannah: "Moooom, (in a lilting voice) -- Mother's Day is over."
gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
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