<p>Wow. Hope that woman in the seat realized what a jerk she was being. I don’t understand why they didn’t give you the seat if you’d booked them! That’s so wrong.</p>
<p>It is so life-affirming to read all these heart-warming stories about wonderful people.</p>
<p>I have a few more.
A physician at a world-renown medical center has been answering my emails and keeping in touch with me for 14 years so that I can continue to have the best health possible, in spite of having a progressive, chronic health condition. NO compensation is received for his email replies, which number in the 100s.</p>
<p>Our kids both have had chronic health issues for the past many years. Their allergist takes significant time out of her busy schedule for them and others with complicated health issues, including patients that all others discard as “too complicated.” She has been willing to write letters to HS and college about our kids health issues and help them get the medical support to succeed. It has helped them keep plugging ahead rather than being discouraged over the challenges they have faced and now mostly overcome. Without her constant support and belief in all of us, we would have really had a MUCH rougher time of the past 14 years.</p>
<p>Gourmetmom’s story reminded me of my own. I was flying home Boston to Houston alone with with kids who were at the time 5 months and 22 months. I planned the best I could, booked the best time day, got the seats in the way back where the jet engine would lull my little ones to sleep and packed enough snacks, juice, milk for both . I booked a seat for my toddler but did not bring a car seat as we had rented one in MA. </p>
<p>Waiting to board, you could tell everyone was hoping to be very, very far away from us. I got to board first and headed to the back of the plane. My toddler was being a toddler and moving around but just in our little space. The flight attendant came over and “spoke” to him to sit in his seat and put on his seat belt. At that time, we were not even 50% boarded. He was kind of kid that freaked if anyone spoke to him…but esp with that kind of tone. He got upset and she said something else–at that point I was freaking out. </p>
<p>As the plane boards, my toddler gets more anxious and the FA comes over and tells me he must be buckled in his own seat and leans over to buckle him in. </p>
<p>A sweet, adorable young woman about 18-21 was sitting across the aisle. She tapped me on the elbow and asked if she could hold my infant for take off so I could hold my toddler. She was so cute and said “I will hold him so he can’t see it isn’t you”. I passed off the baby, toddler was asleep before we even took off. I remember crying, relief and hormones and exhaustion all taking their toll. I thanked her over and over and starting crying again when we landed as I thanked her. </p>
<p>I think of her often and try to pay it forward when I see a young parent struggling alone.</p>
<p>I have always kidded that if I had a second profession, it would be as a flight attendant. I’ve met the most wonderful people who are FAs. I even became a designated therapist for 2 major airlines. I could write tons of stories about the special care these people have taken. </p>
<p>To not bore, once I sat with my infant next to a young man. He kept talking to my little son, playing games. My normally shy kid was totally responsive. I began to wonder, “Is he some kind of pervert?” As we talked, it turned out he was a resident in pediatrics. He was practicing his skills on my kid. I had never seen my kid take to a stranger so quickly. All I could think was what a great pediatrician this man would become. His patients will indeed be fortunate to find such a truly caring person.</p>
<p>When I was diagnosed with cancer I was referred to an oncologist. I believe that I don’t have to “like” my oncologist but during this terrifying weeks leading up to chemo I couldn’t get any feedback on any questions. First doctor sent me a brochure on chemo…no questions allowed.</p>
<p>I was terrified…this is supposed to be a long life long relationship. I was speaking with an acquaintance, a ditzy woman who has a kind heart but makes everyone crazy. My friend said that she knew someone who was a patient of a wonderful doctor. I knew the name but couldn’t get into the practice because he was so good. </p>
<p>Got a call from the doctor’s office the next day. Seven a.m. appointment next day. Could I make it?</p>
<p>Yes…and they have chemo classes. </p>
<p>My father passed away last year, so my mom is living by herself in a big house. Last week her sewage pump went out. We tried to call the guy who usually serviced it when my father was alive, but we couldn’t reach him. My sister then randomly found a company on the internet that appeared could service the pump. A woman (Amy) answered the call. She told my sister that they only serviced commercial clients, but when she heard of my mom’s situation, she said she would send someone over to take care of it. She said her mother was also widowed, so she understood the position we were in. Her guy tried to work on it for hours, but they didn’t have the parts. She then spent hours in trying to locate the parts. Every time we called, she always picked up the call personally. Then all of sudden, the old repairman called us back. He said someone named Amy tracked him down and threatened him with his life if he didn’t go over to my mom’s house to fix it asap. Apparently, Amy through her research found out this guy was the only licensed repair person for this pump. We also found out she was a fairly “senior” person in the business. My mom’s pump was repaired within hours.</p>
<p>My sister called Amy to thank her and asked her to send a bill to us. Amy said it was no charge. She said when her mother needs help someday, she hopes someone will do the same. My sister said next time she helps out an elderly person, she’ll think of Amy.</p>
<p>Not on the level of oldfort’s, but last week our backup sump pump alarm started to go off and was not resetting when I pressed the button. It was 9PM, and H was out of town. A small amount of water had spilled over the side as it was discovered, the main sump float had gotten caught, and the backup wasn’t able to keep up with the water coming in. I called a neighbor, who came over and spent an hour and a half jerry-rigging it and unarming the back up so the alarm wouldn’t go all night. I am still under weight lifting restrictions from surgery five weeks earlier, and knew if the water really started to overflow, it wasn’t likely in my best interest to start moving things out of the basement by myself, much less if it happened in the middle of the night. Thankfully it continued to work all night, and the next morning I called a plumber (we knew them because two of their kids went to preschool with my two - obviously VERY long ago). The service manager called me back and came over right away (I’m thinking dollar signs at this point, and would have been an easy sell for a new sump pump had he tried). He jiggled a few things around, reset the backup sump pump so it would work, and inspected the main pump. He told me what part we needed (guide float) and how to order it - also said what had been jerry-rigged would work fine until the replacement part could come. I told him my concerns about not wanting the water to overflow since I wouldn’t be able to move most of the stuff out and he said it would be fine, but gave me his cell number if it started to happen.</p>
<p>Best part… (like oldfort), I asked him how much I owed him when he was leaving, and he said no charge. </p>
<p>^^^Oh my gosh. That’s amazing.</p>
<p>So wonderful to read about these VERY CARING folks that are still among us in this world. Amy sounds like such a gem!</p>
<p>My mom is chronically “forgetting” or not turning on or hearing her cell phone. It’s really hard to reach her when she’s with her friends because of this. One of her friends is very sweet about answering her own phone and then conveying messages to my mom or having mom talk with us so we can coordinate schedules.</p>
<p>Our mechanic is a sweetheart. When we have any item that he installed that doesn’t last as long as he feels it should have, he will NOT CHARGE for his labor to replace the part and get the manufacturer to send him a new one which he will install for us.</p>
<p>This goes back to when I was 10 - we spent Easter that year with my mother’s family in Indiana and my brother and I were staying with my mother’s sister and her family. A friend of the family came over with these cute styrofoam-cup bunny baskets filled with candy for my cousins. I was upset, but instead of being snarky I told myself, probably for the first time, to get over it, they don’t know you and your brother, it wasn’t personal, etc. The next day the friend came back with bunny baskets for my brother and me! A little thing, but I’ve never forgotten it. </p>
<p>I have an endless list of people’s innate generosity.Over 24 years ago my uncle insisted I was “too smart” to not have the opportunity to do a Masters program.He sent off for the application forms to the top Universities in London-I was accepted and attended a University I could only ever have dreamt of attending,he paid for full tuition,books and boarding.</p>
<p>Not too long ago,I had surgery -the retinue of friends who travelled long distances to stay with me,sending endless fruit baskets,volunteers who picked up my youngest son from boarding school.I am grateful.Your kindness overwhelmed me.I will pay forward.</p>