Proof that there are some good people

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Guy Parquette, Jul 15, 2013.

  1. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    still around in this world.

    Yesterday I was third in line at the grocery store waiting to get checked out. A very elderly woman was at the cashier just finishing up and between us was a middle aged maybe 60 year old lady. Elderly woman was ready to pay for her groceries when second lady interrupted the cashier and told her not to charge the woman...she would pay for it and to just add her groceries on to her bill!

    Before the elderly woman left she gave the lady a huge hug and said "thank you and God bless you."
    When all said and done I asked the lady if they knew each other, she said "nope, first time I saw her."

    That was awesome to see...
    With all the negative in the world it's nice to know there's still some good people out there.

    Anyone else with some "good people" experiences?
     
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  2. zz2h33

    zz2h33 Confirmed Dim-wit

    Not tooting my own horn but i have paid for random people's food orders behind me in drive-thru lines before. i do not know why i like doing this, its really not the charity that makes me feel good...its the mystery, the randomness, and about what the person is thinking when they pull up to the window and the attendant says that it was paid for by the person that was in front of them. By this point i am driving away or already long gone and I'm sure they are thinking "wth? ok then..." and have a smile on their face the rest of the day...they go back to work and tell all their co-workers about their free lunch, maybe go home to their wives or husbands and talk about it over the dinner table..wondering who it was and if they knew them somehow. I particularly like doing this when I'm having a bad day because it cheers me up. Its really a good stress reliever and a hell of a lot cheaper than a shrink.
     
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  3. rmstg2

    rmstg2 Gold Level Contributor

    Nice story Guy we need more of them.

    Bob H.
     
  4. skylark

    skylark Well-Known Member

    I've done that in the past as well. Somebody did it to me first and it made my day, so I wanted other people to have that feeling too.
     
  5. Keith Smith

    Keith Smith Well-Known Member

    I saw the opportunity to pay for a meal for three military men at a restaurant I was eating at. The best part about it was that they had no idea who did it. I had the waitress put their food on my bill and asked her not to tell. Its a good feeling to do for others when you can........
     
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  6. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    A couple months ago,I was in the Sheetz store and there were 4 military men getting coffee and some sandwiches to eat on their way to Harrisburg. They all got their receipts for their food and was standing in line behind me. I told them all to throw the bills up on the counter and I would foot the bill. At first they didn't want me to,but I insisted. I was in my Buick and they seen me get into it and leave. I felt great and that was the best 25 bucks I have spent. Especially when I was passing by the store and they ran over to their humvee and 10 wheelers and saluted me on the way by. I had a smile on my mug the rest of the day..
     
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  7. rogbo

    rogbo Gold Level Contributor

    You guys may have started something, never really thought about it,
    but occasionally in front or behind in grocery line see a nice looking person
    looking like down on their luck. Just might be worth a feel good moment!
     
  8. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    My wife has seen and done this at our local ADLI store. Usually for someone with a fixed income.
     
  9. 69GS455

    69GS455 69 GS 400

    I have had quite a few meals purchased for me while I was in uniform in different states. It makes you feel good. I was having lunch in a small diner in central Illinois when a Grandmother and her grand daughter came in. I paid for their lunch and desert when I paid my bill. It was a great feeling.
     
    Chuck Bridges likes this.
  10. blowncash

    blowncash Well-Known Member

    Thats cool, Gotta Love Mosinee WI.:cool:
     
  11. Houndogforever

    Houndogforever Silver Level contributor

    It's not something you do all the time, but you sure feel good after you do it, and you may never see that person again, but you raised your own, and hopefully their spirits a bit.

    It really does make the day nice.

    Out here in Oregon, it is illegal to pump your own gas, so the attendants do it. Sometimes, particularly in the winter when it is cold and wet and nasty out, there is a guy humping around to 2 or 3 lanes, so maybe 4-6 pumps. They come to give you the receipt from the pump and you hand them $3-5 cash and thank them. It happens rarely and they really appreciate it.

    There is an instant reward to making people happy, and that is the happiness you feel inside.
     
  12. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Hopefully it does.
    I've never thought about doing something like this either, and now will look for the opportunity. It's not that I'm a bad person, I make it a habit to say hi, hold doors open, pick up others dropped stuff, you know, the usual things. It seems I'm allways on the go and to busy thinking about my next hour...but not anymore!

    It's an awesome place. I've been around but will always come back to this place.
    A couple years back when my mother was still with us, she and her three remaining sisters all in there eighties were having lunch at the local dinner and some guy seated the next table over they never met before paid for there meal. He said it was a pleasure listening to them laugh and tell there stories.:cool:

    Keep em coming...this is great!
     
  13. never enuf

    never enuf Well-Known Member

    I have had others pay for me in line and I always make sure to pay for the next person. I have wondered how long the chain goes on before broken. I bought several drinks for some strangers after seeing Robert Plant at the Taste of Chicago Friday night. My kids always ask why I am so nice to strangers and I always tell them being nice is free and makes you feel good, hopefully they are getting the message.
     
  14. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    This is good stuff! Glad to see people around the country are still doing these kinds of things. I can't recall buying any strangers meals or anything, but I do stop on the side of the road on occassion to help people in need with a disabled vehicle.

    A year or so ago, I was on my way to a retreival training session for my dog and with his trainer and happened across this colleged aged girl on the side of the road. She had all her luggage (a couple suit cases) out on the side of the road and was trying to dig out the spare. I turned around and went back to help. She had tried to figure it all out, but just couldn't remeber the best way to approach her flat tire situation. I parked my truck in the median, whipped out the trusty coordless Snap-On Impact and went to work. She was very nice and very appreciative. Too bad I was like 10 years older than her.

    On a couple other occasions I have been at a gas station and I have found people who are having a difficult time getting their vehicles started and need a jump. At times I have watched them ask mutliple people for help only to be shrugged off. In one instance I didn't even have my jumper cables with me, but drove the 5 mins or so back to the house to get a set to come back and jump their car.

    The most recent occasion was just a week or so ago. A co-worker and I were on our way to lunch and noticed a 2WD Tundra out in a field about 50 yrds off the road with their rear axle burried to the ground. So I pulled off the road and drove out to lend a hand. Hooked up to them with my tow strap and pulled them out without a problem. The driver tried to give me $20 for helping but I told him I didn't want it. I was helping because I wanted to and didn't need the money. He said I really saved his rear. It was a company truck that he had gotten stuck and he was about have to call his office to tell them he had gotten it stuck.

    I enjoy doing things like that for other people. It makes me feel good and it pays off in dividends when you can see that they truly are appreciative of what you have done for them. You can only hope that you made enough of an impact that they will pay it forward.
     
    Guy Parquette likes this.
  15. Larkster68

    Larkster68 Well-Known Member

    While in a long department store checkout line, the woman in front of me was next to be waited on when she looked back to see how long the line was getting. She noticed an elderly couple near the end of the line, so she went back to them and brought them up to take her place and she took theirs. This couple told me that it was such a nice surprise because they didnt even know this woman. That got me thinking, sometimes you dont even need to spend extra money to make someone elses day a bit nicer. Recently I had the opportunity to do something similar, and it felt good. I wish I could thank this woman for showing me this. <o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>
     
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  16. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    Just yesterday there was a story on the local CBS affiliate about that. At a Donut Store somewhere in MA (I have forgotten the town) The chain lasted 55 cars at the drive-up window! The chain ended when they ran out of cars. It kinda restores your faith in humanity.
     
  17. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    I, unfortunately, have the other side of the coin of a story. I was in Chicago about 20 years ago with my new bride. She was working so I tagged along. While I was out walking around town, a very raggedy woman asked me for some money for food. I immediately thought my money would go for drugs and said no. About half an hour later I was sitting in McDonald's enjoying my meal when who walks in, spills a bunch of change on the counter and orders a meal. I felt about as low as a person could get.

    I've never forgotten that and do give to most that ask me now. I can't help but think back now every time to the story in the bible when Jesus said that when you help the least of you, you're helping me. And I do the military thing too if I can. I was in the Army and even though no one ever bought me a meal, you can't help but thank those that write the ultimate check of life to protect our way of life.
     
  18. TROSE11SECGN

    TROSE11SECGN Boost is my drug

    At my car dealership we do a very active business in those with foreclosures, repossession, bankruptcy, bad credit, no credit etc. I had an older woman come in here in a buick lesabre, 2000 , rotted out beyond belief, dressed in plane jane clothes. She came in and stated a car she wanted, and I happened to have a florida car, 2005 lesabre with 47k miles, I mean like brand new. She ended up buying the car. She said of all the dealerships she had gone to, she was never greeted and brushed off the lots because people didn't think she was serious. She was so happy in the past month I have sold 5 of her relatives including her daughter who bought a Buick Rendezvous sight unseen and had shipped to where she lives in Baltimore.

    Happens all the time. You have to be able in customer service and in a customer oriented/service business to advise people and make them know you care and are not just trying to get in their pocket book. I have talked people out of buying cars before because to me it didn't seem financially prudent and a year later they are back with a better financial situation and the buy from me. People remember and may tell a few people of a great experience but they will tell everyone of a bad experience.

    Case in point I have a young kid come on the lot in a 2000 Chevy Blazer all black rusted out. Nobody talked with him was 845 at night 15 minutes before closing and my weekend began. Kid says I want a brand new Yukon denali and I want to drive it. I said fine he liked it and he said get it detailed ill be back in the morning. Following morning 10am he was happy I had it done (went against my owner's discretion) because he had about 70k in cash on him to buy the truck. Largest settlement of worker comp claim ever in the history of ohio. And now I have sold all his siblings and relatives and soon his g/f.

    Being nice pays dividends. People will always remember you if you are nice treat them well and are genuine. Generosity pays.
     
  19. jjones1983

    jjones1983 Well-Known Member

    Here in Wichita there is a foundation called One Spark.. this is there card.
    one_spark_card.gif

    As they say "ONE SPARK CAN START A FIRE!" People may be having breakfast and when they get ready to pay the Waitress will hand them this card as someone has already taken care of it. In WalMart as a person was looking in their purse a man motioned to the clerk and "swiped" his card behind her, when she turned to pay, the clerk said it was paid for and never said by whom. I also know a small but very cool tradition called "Merry Christmas" where you pay for the next person in line coffee or ?? when they get to checkout the clerk says.. you have been "Merry Christmased" and sends them on their way.

    On a larger note.. someone who had health issues and off work for a while received Dillion/Kroger gift cards in mail with no return address.. and I can tell you many more.

    Kindness can be anything.. might be just a place in line, a cup of coffee or a $100 Card to Dillions... but it will ALLWAYS make the giver feel better.

    One Spark Can Start a Fire.....
     
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  20. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Phillip, seems to me I remember a story on here (V8) just like yours...did you tell of it before? If so, it must really bother you.
    If it helps, I've made mistakes in the past affecting other people that I greatly regret...and I'm sure most everyone else did also.
    Live and learn...live and learn, and it sounds like you have:TU:
     

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