I had to work 10 hours today with no break or lunch...not that big of a deal, but it takes it's toll when you are used to bankers hours.

So, I'm enjoying a well earned Chardonnay as I sit here listening to my china clink in the cabinet, my windows rattle, and my chest beat to the bass of the Statia-America Day celebrations going on just off my terrace outside. It's definitely poison time here and I can attest to the fact that Caribbean people like their music "just a tad" louder than most folks.

Made a quickie Shepherd's Pie for dinner and then DH cut open our first 5-pound, the size of my head (literally), papaya from our trees that we planted by just tossing some seeds on the ground at our property two years ago. Needless to say, papaya trees grow like weeds here, but we have yet to get one this large, with hardly any seeds in it!

Tonight's topic, courtesy of LoveItaly, is "Random Acts of Kindness In Your Travels." I know this has been done before on a thread on the Europe forum, so how about we change it up a little? I'm a firm believer in "what comes around, goes around." So, what random acts of kindness have you given out in your travels, and how have you been reimbursed by a random act of kindness while traveling at a later date?

Champagne!! I'm celebrating my new job!!

I have received so many random acts of kindness in my travels. There have been so many times when someone helped me because I was lost, confused or upset. One that stands out is when I was in Amsterdam. We had been driving around Germany and the Netherlands and upon arriving in Amsterdam we realized that a car would be more of a hinderance than a benefit. Amsterdam was the last stop on our trip, so we decided to take the car to the airport and use public transport for the coming 3 days. We headed out for the airport and got really confused while driving. We stopped to ask for help, and a lady said, "Follow me, I'll lead you to the airport." She got in her car and drove several miles out of her way to lead us to the airport. Amazing.

<DH just arrived home from work after I typed this paragraph. I got up and poured him a glass of champagne, and told him the news of my new job. He is thrilled!!>

OK, back to this thread. A few months ago we were in Warwick, England. DH saw a heavy man in a wheelchair that had parked himself just outside a shop. I thought the man was just waiting for someone to come out of the shop and drive him somewhere. But DH was a lot more perceptive and realized the man needed help, so he went over to offer help. The man's face lit up and he said, "Oh, yes please, I'm having a terrible time getting up this hill." DH grabbed the wheelchair and pushed him up the hill. We reached the top of the hill and we dropped him off at his apartment building. He thanked us profusely, but it was really no trouble at all. I am ashamed that I did not recognize that the man needed help, but I was very proud of DH. This event made our day.

You're very fortunate, since when I was working for 40 years, eight of those in the USN, it was 12/14+ hr days, every third night, holiday and weekend on call to a 775 bed hospital -needless to say, all the time there and no sleep and no compensation for admin duties.
None of you might survive that challenge.
I am so happy to be retired!
Never been sued, no prof complaints.
On this Veterans' day, I'm so proud of we few: the Docs, Nurses and paramedical folks who still carry the big burden for the USA.
I would not have done differently, but I'm happy to be here in San Miguel de Allende.
M

PM, congrats again on the new job!

I think that giving out random acts of kindness are much more rewarding than receiving them, and your post proves my point. Great stories!

It's Friday late afternoon and I'm just home from a day's worth of hunting-gethering for two guest dinners this weekend.I just poured a glass of Sterling Central Coast Chardonnay.

This question is a good one and certainly a feel-good one.

1)Random act given in Mexico probably 25 years ago. Three sisters approached a group of 5 women sitting on the beach and we began to talk. I speak BASIC spanish. Every day they came and everyday we bought the breakfast or lunch. They sat with us and we visited. At the end of their stay they wanted to take us to meet their Abuela(grandmother) with whom they lived. Needless to say we walked into the very poor and somewhat squalid living situation passsing a St Jude shrine on the way. The youngest girl told me she lived in a very ugly house. My reply in Spanish was, it is a very good house because you live there. We met the grandmother and the girls were thrilled we had come.


2)Most recently, we were leaving NYC heading for JFK in late afternoon. Our hire car called to say he was stuck on the Queensboro bridge because it was on fire. Needless to say, traffic moving out of Manhattan was at a crawl. We flagged a cab and had the great fortune to been driven to JFK by a man who knew Brooklyn like the back of his hand. We got to JFK in 45 minutes form W. 23rd Street. We got a great tour of Brooklyn in the course of it all.

Cin cin and keep paying it forward!

happy vets day, mikemo.

I've encountered no random acts of kindness and have given none. But to hell with it, I'm drinking anyway. I'm going for a vodka tonic. Cheers to you, Statia! And to everybody else, after this exasperating week on Fodors.

Hi Statia Your Sheperd's Pie sounds so good!

Random acts of kindness? I try as often as I can - they are humbling experiences and I have been rewarded greatly.

I don't know what it is, but lately I have been finding pocketbooks in shopping carts and my DH and I have traveled around the county to return them - mostly to elderly people.

I especially think of the men and women who risk their own lives to protect our freedom - isn't that the ultimate random act of kindness? I think so. May God bless our Veterans and those who we memorialize.

Drink tonight? Popcorn and a movie - can't wait.

Enjoy your weekend and happy travels.

And congratulations to PM! Way to go

mikemo, I can appreciate your thoughts since I worked three jobs simultaneously for many years, starting from a teen, before I moved here to the islands. Then, I legally couldn't work here and loved being a "domestic goddess" for nearly ten years. I only went back to work for "the travel fund," after receiving my citizenship here and being offered a management position with a company. But, I know that many people have to work many, many more hours under much more strenuous circumstances than mine. I know...I've been there, and it's hard.

Pam, great stories!

I have so many, as well. On the receiving end....

DH and I were on a day trip to London and missed the last bus to Waterloo Station in order to return to Paris. We found a very nice gentleman who worked with the tour bus company and upon hearing our plight, he was gracious enough to put us on the employee bus so that we could catch our train in time. And, he was so nice and jolly about it!

Our vow renewal consutlant arrived in Venice to meet us two years ago and aside from making final arrangements for our ceremony, she'd taken the day off work to show us around the city. Needless to say, she's a very special friend to this day.

On the giving end....

Since this is Veterans Day, this one comes to mind. DH and I were on a Southwest flight from Houston to Vegas. We were in those bulkhead backwards seats and an older couple was seated across from us. DH noticed the older man's cap said "WWII VET." DH looked the man in the eye, shook his hand, and said, "I just want to thank you for everything you did." The man bowed his head, said thank you back to DH, and had several tears flowing down his cheek thereafter. We have never forget that man, nor the many vets both in our midst and gone now.

We were in line for quite awhile in the heat at the Accademia in Venice and the couple in front of us had various sorts of odd currency, but not enough euros to get in. DH asked the cashier how much they needed and sprang for their admittance to the museum. They were very thankful and it felt nice to help them out.

Since so many who check in here seem to be dedicated oenophiles....I guess I'll speak up for the truly dissolute.
The poison tonite is a dry martini (gin)- mmmm!

Our most notable received random act was a fellow who stopped on the Illinois Tollway when we were broken down; crossed four lanes of horrendous traffic; led us to a "closed" garage on a Saturday afternoon of the July 4th w/e where they helped us out...AND this good samaritan handed me one of those tiny little angel pins. I try to be sure that we NEVER leave home without it.

I am not sure what my poison will be yet...but I could definitely use some! After a rough morning of a flare up with my hand from an injury, I took our DD shopping. That was fun, but we were too successful We did about half of our Christmas shopping!

I feel brain dead now, so can't even think about any specific random acts of kindness. I know I have been on the receiving end as well as the giving end, but I am too brain dead to think, lol!

PM--A huge congrats to you!

I dont know what its going to be but its going to be several -
what a day with crazy problems

Is there a full moon? It sure feels like it

Hi dear Statia, a papaya tree! Oh lucky you. Have a friend arriving in a few minutes so will read all the threads later. We will be going to my favorite local restaurant where the ambience is wonderful, the food is yummy and wine list is fantastic. All kind of prices (please note dear Patrick). Dear friends, enjoy your poison, I will too!! Happy Friday evening to everyone.

Hi Statia! Wild papaya sounds excellent. I have to pay for that kind of stuff here in Indiana.

I've spent the week praying for decent weather and co-ordinating a leaf raking party for tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be good. The friggin' leaves are everywhere. Everybody loves the Brown County, Indiana leaves when they're so gorgeous in the trees. If they had to rake them off everything to keep them from choking all the landscaping to death, they wouldn't think they were so "be-you-tee-ful!"

Maybe my usual VO Manhattan will wash away my bad attitude. And you go tuckerdc! What's up with these weenie wine-o's?

Good for your husband P-M! (And good for you for having married such a thoughtful man.) Having a mom in a wheelchair for years before she died you'd not believe how people can treat you. I feel so embarrassed for them when they are so mean. I'll only give one example. I used the handicap van to drop my mom off at a sidewalk under an awning as it was misting. I whipped the van around into a handicap spot, jumped out and started walking over to my mom. A lady looked at me with a nasty face and said I didn't look handicapped. I said I wasn't. I pointed at my mom and said she was and I didn't like to leave her alone like that. When she blushed I told her perhaps she should mind her own business and spend more time being thankful for her health. My dad drove my mom around the most and unfortunately has many such stories.

OK, that was negative. Maybe I need to let the leaves go! Off to good thoughts.

Random acts as random thoughts.

Helped a couple find the right road to the Torro de Federico in Enna, Sicily a few weeks ago.

In Siricusa I only had big bills to pay for the passages under the cathedral. The nice man took my few coins and put me and my friend in on a senior's discount. (I'm 44.)

In the mid-90's I was with two friends waiting in line to see the Whitehouse decorated for Christmas. We were near the end of the line. The couple in front of us had waited almost an hour before they realized they were supposed to have invitations. (They'd seen the sign and just got in line.) I had one extra ticket that I offered them. As word went up the line they were able to come up with a second. By the way the decorations were incredible and I got to see Buddy the 1st dog.

seetheworld, well said!

mms, I hope your hand feels better soon.

LoveItaly, have a nice dinner! I'll bet you're having Italian. Have some for me since we have no Italian here on Statia.

Indy, it's always so good to see/hear from you. I can relate to the disability issue since my mom is now somewhat immobile. I'm trying to plan a surprise "once in a lifetime dream trip" to Rome for her and have gotten both "what are you thinking" and "go for it" advice. When you are around people with disability issues, it makes you so thankful for your health, and also makes you more willing to assist them.

Think i'll have a $20 bottle of wine at Flying Fish (yuck yuck).

i like to think we are all committing mini random acts of kindness each time we answer questions on these boards for strangers.
on this veterens day i have packed a box for a young man from my town currently serving in iraq. not really random, but..
my poison will be irish whiskey neat- hmm i better go get it now.

Good point, Virginia....and good for you with your care package. That is so sweet.

LOL Suze We will be up in your neck of the woods over Thanksgiving visiting the inlaws. We do get a couple nights to stay in downtown though and I am looking forward to that. We will catch up with old friends. So far the only place we have reservations is the Queen City Grill.

Indy/Statia--I know you you both mean. I had a family member that was a paraplegic and so I am quite aware when I see someone struggling. Last weekend my husband was going into a Starbucks and there was a lady trying to push a wheelchair in. Not one person near the door helped! My husband was still in the parking lot when he saw it, and ran up to help. The line was long, and there were plenty of people who watched, but did nothing. Very frustrating.

Statia--Thanks My hand is functional now. This morning I had no use of it and was in a lot of pain. The cold has been bothering it, but then I just overdid it the other day so paid the price for that.

Poison will be some Erath Pinot Gris. DH will be home any minute and I am ready to curl up in front of the fire after dinner.

What an enjoyable thread!

On our first trip to Italy, we spent two nights in La Spezia. I'm not sure how to say this, but we didn't feel especially comfortable there, nor did we find the locals to be that friendly. On our one full day, we got off the local train after spending most of the day in the Cinque Terre and were at the bus stop looking for the bus with the name of the street our hotel was on. Bus after bus passed and we never saw the one we needed. It was getting really late, so when another bus stopped, I boarded and asked the driver when 'our' bus would be coming. Even though his route was nowhere near our hotel, he told us to get on and he would take us to the hotel (he had no other passengers - did I mention that it was really late?). When he let us off at the hotel, he wouldn't take any money, even though he had gone out of his way. It was like our whole perception of the city changed in an instant by one person's 'random act of kindness'.