It was my own fault, parking there on a weekday, though the lot was mostly empty. I knew the building owners are jerks about it.
So, with laptop bag and thermos in hand, I turn around and go inside to find out where my car is.
Predictably, the goddamned towing company is like an hour or more walk. I only had about 70 minutes to pick up my kids from school 20 minutes away, so it was only feasibly walkable if I hauled ass and had very good luck. This was in an area where the nearest taxi was 2 hrs away. Uber or Lyft are only sporatic. Basically, I was just fucked and would have to call my spouse to leave work and pick up the kids. It is not a good look, as they say.
As I’m venting to the security guard about my situation, some folks in the lobby were bored and listening I guess. An older lady in the lobby spoke up and offered to help.
Now, for context, I was dressed pretty well for work (like at a courthouse), but Im a guy and largish at that. I probably outweighed her by >100 lbs. She even joked that they should get a good look at me in case I murdered her. It was in jest, I guess, she laughed more than I did… We were all on camera(s) etc, so I suppose she probably felt quite safe.
Within 5 minutes, she concluded her business and we headed out. Got out to her car and off we went. She knew where the towing place was and it was already on her way. She just got me delivered and ushered me out.
That poor lady lost her husband of 55 years last month and she still gave me a ride when I needed help. It was only a 5 or 10 minute ride, so I am sure it was not a big deal to her at all, but it meant a lot to me. And I cant even remember her name.
I guess maybe not a “tiny” gesture, but tiny compared to the effect on me.
My car got towed this week.
It was my own fault, parking there on a weekday, though the lot was mostly empty. I knew the building owners are jerks about it.
So, with laptop bag and thermos in hand, I turn around and go inside to find out where my car is.
Predictably, the goddamned towing company is like an hour or more walk. I only had about 70 minutes to pick up my kids from school 20 minutes away, so it was only feasibly walkable if I hauled ass and had very good luck. This was in an area where the nearest taxi was 2 hrs away. Uber or Lyft are only sporatic. Basically, I was just fucked and would have to call my spouse to leave work and pick up the kids. It is not a good look, as they say.
As I’m venting to the security guard about my situation, some folks in the lobby were bored and listening I guess. An older lady in the lobby spoke up and offered to help.
Now, for context, I was dressed pretty well for work (like at a courthouse), but Im a guy and largish at that. I probably outweighed her by >100 lbs. She even joked that they should get a good look at me in case I murdered her. It was in jest, I guess, she laughed more than I did… We were all on camera(s) etc, so I suppose she probably felt quite safe.
Within 5 minutes, she concluded her business and we headed out. Got out to her car and off we went. She knew where the towing place was and it was already on her way. She just got me delivered and ushered me out.
That poor lady lost her husband of 55 years last month and she still gave me a ride when I needed help. It was only a 5 or 10 minute ride, so I am sure it was not a big deal to her at all, but it meant a lot to me. And I cant even remember her name.
I guess maybe not a “tiny” gesture, but tiny compared to the effect on me.