A bicycle for Maelia, a new friendship through Fodors

My heart is near bursting with the sweetness of everything, the kindness you showed, how sweet James (ello)was, how adorable any little girl can be, what you went through over those many weeks, to do something for a perfect stranger !
I cannot understand how you can be so shy, CM, your heart is so huge, your arms are open so wide, it boggles my tiny little mind.
Thank you for making my day
Scarlett

Well done, Croque Madame! The kindness and generosity of strangers is a welcome light these days!

Cheers,
Jan

What a marvelous story! Having friends in France has been a real blessing for us, and I know it will be for you as well.

Awww, that is one of the sweetest best stories I've read in a long, long time and, as always, done with your great gift of writing/story-telling.

Well, you did say "'ello" was a teddy bear of a man.

Croque_Madame, you are one of the nicest people. I'm so glad everything went well in toting the bike. I'm sure I've missed the details but did they charge you extra for carrying the bike on the plane?

This story is an early Christmas/Hanukah present to all of us.

What a decent human being you are, Madame.

Fantastic story! Thanks for the update, and most of all for being such a wonderful, generous person!

That's a tears-in-my-eyes beautful event worth waiting for. Every time I see a Dora, the explorer bike, I'll think of you and Stephanie and Melia.
Welcome home, with love from us all here.

Just great, CM.

What a heartwarming story! This definitely is the best "trip report" I have ever read

I do hope that you will give an update after Christmas.

You made me :'(
You're the best
You bring wherever you go
Your is huge

Thank you, everyone, but really it was we who were the lucky ones.

For instance, James had the opportunity to see, in a French home, that families are the same everywhere. The visit also, I hope, taught him the huge rewards of acting with kindness and having a receptive, eager approach to new experiences.

beatchick: thanks, but you got your trip reports mixed up! It was dln's husband, Robert, that I described as a "tall teddy bear" in a reply to her post. Which he is! I wouldn't mind a bit if James grew up to be just like him.

Very nice Croque_Madame!

I'm glad it all worked out so beautully for you.

What a heartwarming story!

Croque_Madame, that was the best trip report I have ever read! Such a beautiful story with a heartwarming message. You are a kind person and thanks so much for sharing this with us.

May your holidays be as wonderful as the one you just help to make wonderful!

Just wonderful! A real plus for Franco-American relations! Can I represent you in selling the movie rights or should a book be written first?

"dln's husband, Robert, that I described as a 'tall teddy bear'"
Ohhhhhh!

Degas: a movie? Sure! But only if you agree to play the part of Patrick, the "gorgeous guy from Martinique"!

With all the terrible newsreports we are battered with day and night your story (and you kindness in sharing it) is like a breath of fresh air Croque Madame. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Good for you! In this day and age kind gestures based on trust of strangers are so rare. Great report and am glad to hear they got the bike!

Dear CM,

Please do let us know if in 15-20 years Maelia marries 'ello'.

Oh, I am so happy to read this update! I have been wondering what happened since reading the original "help" request from the young french woman. It warmed my heart at the time to see how determined so many of you were to help.
Bless you, Croque Madame. That you feel you were the one who benefitted says an awful lot about your wonderful spirit. And what a lovely example for your grandson to learn firsthand from...

And bless us, for having Croque_Madame here.

I just don't know where to begin ... I'm one of those who followed this story from the beginning, and it is sweet indeed to hear such a satisfying conclusion.

In the midst of the horrors we hear of daily, what an encouraging tale this is, of generosity and kindness to strangers. All blessings upon you, Croque Madame!

(Ira, the thought of us all still here in 15-20 years reading and posting every day makes me slightly queasy, for some reason.)

I loooved your story!! What an awesome and generous person you are! My 4 yr old niece is obsessed w/Dora and princesses and we're always indulging her...but it's logistically easier for us

Thanks for taking the time to post. Reading this made my day

Croque_Madame, I just love it when you can make a kid happy. Nice job, and great report. Dora the Explorer is one of my grandduaghter's favorite icons.

Next trip to Paris, would you please bring me back a case of wine?

When I read a post here that brings tears to my eyes it's usually from laughter but Croque Madame your story is truly heart warming. Just what is needed on a chilly autumn night. Thank you for sharing. Deborah

I'm glad you told everyone the story, Croque Madame! Believe me, folks, if you thought it's heartwarming in print, you should have heard the live version that Rob and I got in Paris! Although I have to say the best part was the way we laughed about little Maelia calling her new friend James "hello." It still makes me chuckle to think of Madame giving her rendition of "hello! hello!"

Madame, Rob thanks you very much for the elegant compliments and returns the same to you (not that he thinks you're a teddy bear, though, just a sweetie).

And here's another nice thing--Madame and I would never have met had it not been for the Dora the Explorer bike, and now I have made a wonderful new friend. Serendipity indeed!

Just fabulous, fabulous!!!!! I had alsmost forgotten about this so thanks so much for posting the results.

What a great, great story! It never ceases to amaze me what inspiring connections can be made "over the internet," despite all the horror tales of axe murderers and such.

Thanks for letting us know how this turned out!

I had followed the original thread about this, and it's so great to hear how it turned out. Wouldn't you just love to see the look on Maelia's face on Christmas morning when she see's that bike? Croque Madame, I hope they're planning to send you pictures of the event!

It was so nice to read about something good going on in the world for a change. Thanks so much for posting this story, Croque Madame, and for helping out a stranger! Maybe all of us who were touched by this could also provide a kind act for a stranger -- it might help to lessen the evil in this world.

Such a sweet story and wonderfully told. I was reenacting the entire event in my head--and YES, with voices!!! <ello...ello?>

You're a Pip CroqueMadame! You've made me all teary and sniffly here in the office...
That was just plain everyday nice!

Madame - Truly one of the best stories I've ever read. So encouraging to know there are actually people like you in the world.

By the way, are you a published writer? It would be a treat to read something of yours. If not...ever thought about it?

Croque Madame, that was truely a wonderfully heartwarming story. I hope that if the chance ever came my way I too would be as kind as you.

Thank you, everyone, for your very kind comments.

I have to say I'm totally blown away by the response to what we did, it seemed such a small thing at the time. When someone needs help, if you can help, you do.

I'll bet if each of you took a clear look at your own lives, you would discover things that you've done (however quickly forgotten by you) that may have made a big difference to someone else.

I believe in the ripple effect of kindness, the way a small act widens in circles, brightening moments in peoples' lives in ways you may never have imagined possible when you did what you did.

Few of us (definitely not me!) are heroic figures on the world stage, but the cumulative benefits of small, individual kindnesses everywhere can, and will, change the direction of our global future.

Oh Croque_Madame, if only everyone in the world was like you (and many people on this Fodors board). What a beautiful peaceful world it would be.

This story just was such a delight to read.

What a wonderful thing to do! And I bet you have made friends for life--not to mention that you feel just so happy with yourself for helping the French family make their child's Christmas wonderful. I am sure you are going to get photos of her with that bicycle.

Many years ago I was put in a position where I was able to save a 16 year old girl's life. I basically bulldozed my way into the family's business because the girl was not where she needed to be insofar as medical care was concerned--and I had the knowledge to get her into the "state of the art" doctor. She survived after massive chemotherapy and terrible surgery that saved her leg by putting a prosthesis inside. Helping her and her family was the absolute best thing I have ever done.

I am not a religious person. However, I do believe that selfless acts of human kindness are one of the things that make human beings different from the rest of the animals. Doing something to help someone else for no personal gain can also often bring the greatest satisfaction.

In my case, every time the girl--now grown--comes to the area, she always visits me and brings a small gift. I always tell her that her survival was, in truth, a resurrection. The biggest miracle was that she lived and that, despite massive chemotherapy, she has a child. Everytime I think of my role in saving her life, it makes me smile. If I do nothing else important with my life, that one act validated my being here.

By the way, I am also on the bone marrow registry. Someone once asked me if I would go through with it if I were ever contacted. Of course I would. How could one say "No" in those circumstances.

And, if any of you guys are not on the bone marrow registry, you should be. You never know. . . .

I don't recall the French mother's original post, but this was a story worth reading! I got goosebumps while reading it. How wonderful for you, and especially for James "ello" to experience!

You are absolutely right, many of us do little things that make a big difference in other people's lives, every day. Your story was a nice heartwarming reminder. Keep it up, everyone!

Another beautiful story that happened where I live, Vacaville
Ca.

A 42 year old woman. Manager of a local restaurant. Mother of an 8year old. Husband a Vacaville fireman.

The woman had a serious kidney problem, the same kind her mother had died from 15 years ago on the operating table.

This woman, by the name of Kathy, got sicker and sicker due to her kidney problem. She had to quit working.

Her little daughter belonged to a gym. At the gym Kathy and another woman whose daughter also belonged to the gym got talking and in the course of conversations this woman found out about Kathy's kidney problem

Kathy finally had to go on dialyisis. She had only a couple of months to live.
The few people in her life that were a "match" backed out at the last moment.

The dear woman that Kathy met at her daughters gym class went in to be tested. She was a match for Kathy.

The operation, this dear woman's kidney taken from her and given to Kathy took place this last week.

They are both, according to our local paper, doing beautiful.

There are angels among us.

ooh. LoveItaly, that gives me the chills...I've heard about these weird, fortuitous coincidences on the news, but...

Croque_Madame - What a great story and how kind of you to go to all of the trouble to do something so nice for a stranger. Aren't Fodor's posters great? Has anyone seen the movie "Pay it Forward"? Great movie about doing kindnesses to strangers. It brought tears to my eyes when I rented the video several years ago.

JDraper--I've always believed in the idea of what goes around, comes around but after seeing the Kevin Spacey movie, 'Pay It Forward' has become one of my mottos!!! Croque Madame has proven she subscribes to that

Drying my eyes now... this is one of the most touching stories I've read in a very very long time. Thank you CM for your generosity and wonderful trip report.

What a lovely thing for you to do ! I remember the post well! You are a wonderful lady.

Was surprised to see this post back up on Fodors today. The weird coincidence is that, just yesterday, I received an email from Stephanie.

In addition to her responsibilities as a wife and mother, plus her job outside the home, she has volunteered to take care of Patrick's mother , who has cancer. The lady is now living with them and Stephanie takes her to all the necessary medical appointments, which as I know from personal experience with both my parents, will be many and very time consuming.

But you know, I would expect nothing less from this incredibly big hearted, compassionate woman. I am so proud that she considers me a friend.

And grateful for the existence of Fodors, where it all began for us.

CM, I'm so glad to see your update--you're a sweetheart!

Topping the Dora the Explorer bike story

What a heartwarming story this is. I missed reading it first time around and am so happy starrsville topped it today.

Judy ( who also has stars in her eyes, sometimes)

Croque_Madame, where are you? I've missed you.

One of the Sweet Christmas Stories from the Past.

I miss Croque_Madame and I hope she is happy and busy traveling all over the world.. or just France if that is what she wants

Thanks for topping this Scarlet. I was not on Fodors back then.

An amazing story, that is what Fodors is all about, meeting new people and creating friendships whether in person or online.

it will be a nice Christmas If I hear from you, Madame!

Very nice, thank you for topping this Scarlett.

Thanks Scarlett, reading this is just the perfect ending to my Christmas Day.

A truly lovely story. You are the best!

What a great story! And, what a giving person Croque_Madame must be to do this!

I got so excited when I saw the post from Croque Madame thinking she had come back to us and then I saw the date!!! boo hoo. I wonder where she is?

What a gorgeous story, such a lovely generous lady.

thanks for topping,
Schnauzer

Hello, hello, everyone! What a shock to see Maelia's story again! Thank you so much, Scarlett, for reminding me of a very happy time! I don't come to Fodors very often anymore, that I checked in while this story was up is just too weird! Holiday greetings, dear Fodorites! Special hugs to you, Mimi!

I am glad, though, for an opportunity to provide a sequel:

A year ago November, my sister and I traveled to Paris for ten days. The day before our departure, I became quite sick, but refused to even consider cancelling the trip. I mean, if you're going to be knock-knock-knocking at death's door, why not have it be at one of those beautifully carved Parisian doors?

The airports (ATL-AMS-CDG)and flights were a bit tricky, but my sister is one of those "March, soldier, march!" types, so there was no slack cut for anyone staggering along in her wake, just exhortations to pick up the pace. The hideous blisters on my face and upper chest did tend to scatter the crowds before me, which was a help. (I have systemic lupus with cerebritis, flare-ups include some rather off-putting temporary special effects.)

So, we made to Paris, where we were rather abruptly dumped at the door to our rented apartment in the 9th by a taxi driver who sped away from possible contagion with his head out the window, sucking up great gulps of restorative Parisian air.

Inside the courtyard, we discovered that reaching our upper floor apartment involved climbing one of those tightly winding princess-in-a-tower type of staircases that are enough to make the steadiest of heads reel, much less one already experiencing illness induced vertigo. Let us not even mention the five inch wide, two inch high blister bubbling up on one knee like a mini-volcano. (Oh, I was a stunner that year in Paris!)

There was no way I was going to make it up that staircase, not two or three times a day for ten days, no matter how vigorously dear Sis cracked her whip at my droopy hindquarters. So we sat down at the foot of the cursed stairs to consider our options. Reached by phone, the rental company manager informed us that, regretfully, she had no first floor apartments to offer as an alternative and furthermore, could not refund any of the $3200 advance payment because where would she find someone to rent the place at such short notice?

Talk about down and out in Paris. At least Orwell had a rat hole of a place to lay his head. We had only our suitcases...and one old friend. I called Stephanie, Maelia's mother, with whom I had stayed in touch over the years.

She immediately flew to our rescue, driving in evening rush hour traffic from her home in a suburb 'way south of Paris without a moment's hesitation to offer us her home, her help, whatever was needed. With exquisite manners, she did not even blanch at the sight of the gross blisters. They had become invisible.

Stephanie drove us from hotel to hotel in the 7th searching for a room for two, without a reservation, for ten nights, a room that would not affront my sister's unyielding aesthetic sensibilities. Some could offer a few nights or most of the nights, but not all of the nights. We did not want to have to switch hotels several times during our stay, even though Sis was fully capable of repeatedly dragging my weakened carcass through the streets of Paris at the end of her handy-dandy, retractable travel clothesline.

We secured a room at the Hotel Muguet, with the promise of a permanent transfer the next day to a two bedroom flat on St. Dominique owned by the hotel. A flat with an elevator. I do not even remember undressing that night but, according to the morning report, I snored. Despite the night in bed, my condition was no better. (Perhaps the sister snored?)

No sooner had I brushed my teeth than Stephanie was at our door to take me to the American Hospital which, by the way, has a very civilized formal tea room instead of the usual clanging cafeteria. Upon discharge, I was sent off with a shopping bag full of various bandages and medications, one of which (Predisone) subsequently enabled me to dart around Paris during the remainder of our stay like (to quote Basil Fawlty) "an amphetamine-crazed puff adder".

One evening, an anxious Stephanie appeared, slightly out of breath, at our apartment door. (Parisians disdain elevators. THEY, nubile creatures, actually climb stairs.) When I had not answered her calls to my cell all day (it was turned off) she feared the worst and had driven into town, prepared yet again to transport me to the hospital. Or do anything else she could to help.

Another night, we enjoyed dinner at her home after which she and Maelia took us to tour the three story house that Patrick (her husband) was remodeling, a house with pink roses in the garden. One bedroom, I was assured, has my name on the door.

So there you have it. One very small kindness extended at Christmastime many years ago. So much kindness received in return. Merci, my friend.

C_M, thanks for coming back to post your latest update! What a story. How impressively kind of Maelia's mother.

If you have time, I'd suggest posting a review about your apartment on another thread. I'm sure many people would be interested to know.

I have never looked at the posts for France, but then I saw your original one about the bicycle for Maelia, in the side bar. That proved a wonderful read for Christmas day. Then, I saw the new entries, and had such a good chuckle about the picture you drew of your sister and your subsequent adventure.

Thank you .. maybe I can wrench myself away from Italy for awhile, after all.

It is lovely to see you back Croque_Madame, surely you must come a visit us again frequently now we have shown you how much we missed you. I loved your story about your last trip, you even made the boils and blisters sound funny which I am sure they weren't.

Please stay with us,
Schnauzer

Topping for Cigalechanta and Scarlett.

Thank you for the welcome back, Schnauzer and WillTravel! Glad you enjoyed Maelia's story, YvonneT., and welcome to France!

Thank you, thank you. You brought tears to my eyes.
I've been thinking about you alot and wodering how you are.
PLEASE stay in touch,
kiss, kiss, mimi

Dear Madame, what a treat! I remember reading the original post and have seen you mentioned many times since. How interesting that you checked in just in time to see this. Timing is everything...Please come back with more postings.

Croque_Madame, welcome back. I just love Karma. I'm glad two kindred spirits like you and Stephanie found each other.

TWO great stories on one thread!

Thanks so much for sharing! Please do come back and stay with us. We miss the oldie but goodies like yourself, Madame!

Is James a "tall teddy bear" by now?

Those are great stories, but I'm dying to know what happened to the $3,200?? Did they refund it?

Dear Madame, I hope this post finds you in better health.
May this new year be kind to you.