Did my good deed for the day on my off- Friday morning. Went into the local O'Reilly's/VIP to drop off the snowblower tire for fixing (I thought it was off the bead since it was flat and I couldn't get it to pump up). While waiting on the tire, a lady probably a couple years older than me got the bad news that they didn't have the tires for replacing one that blew on her truck. They would get it in from another store in a couple of hours. The counter guy asked her if they could get her somewhere, and she said she needed to get to work in Hooksette (about 35 miles away). Well, that was too far for them (understandable) so she said she would try to call her daughter.
She went outside and I waited a couple more minutes before they brought my tire out - freebie since they just needed to pump it up. They even did a water test to make sure the rim seal wasn't broken and there were no holes. Apparently I either didn't wait long enough for my tire pump to make traction on the 3 pounds of pressure that was in the tire, or just not strong enough. Anyhoo, I was happy.
As I was leaving, I saw the lady out in the parking lot looking at her phone. I asked her if she was all set and she said that she couldn't get ahold of her daughter but had left her a message so she should hear back at some point. Well, I was planning to go to Concord soon anyway (about 30 miles), so I told her I could take her to work as long as she could get a ride back. She agreed, got her uniform out of her truck and we headed off. She was gushing about how that is why she like small town life - everyone is so friendly and helpful. She said if she was living in the city (where she used to be), everyone would just ignore someone with a problem.
Yes, we both wore masks during the trip. About half way to Hooksette her daughter returned the call and gave her mother the 3rd degree about if she had a mask, if she was wearing it, if I was wearing a mask etc.). I piped up in the background that we were being safe. It was actually a fun trip getting her to work, she liked to talk, which is the type of person that I need around when I don't know them. I can never think of anything to talk about and I was happy we didn't have a 40 minute ride in uncomfortable silence.
I know that people talk about the unfriendliness of large cities, and I'm certain they must have reason; but, in NYC, Chicago, Seattle, LA, San Fran, Albuquerque, St Louis, and KCMO, I nearly always found people to be helpful - in the case of some perverts too helpful, I'll admit. IMHO, cities comprise collections of neighborhoods and most neighborhoods act as small-to-medium-sized cities whose residents are helpful and friendly.
At any rate, just think of the pollution you saved us all by not making the woman's daughter come get her. If that were the only good that you did, it would have been a kindness well done. As it was, it also saved the woman some time and gave you a chance to actually listen to a person IRL.
Posted by: Cop Car | December 12, 2020 at 09:53 AM
"and gave you a chance to actually listen to a person IRL."
True that. I don't think I've actually talked face-to-face with another person that wasn't a dump attendant, store clerk, or in a line at a store since early October. And those certainly haven't been what you would call conversations, just pleasantries for a minute or two.
Posted by: bogie | December 13, 2020 at 05:09 AM