One of the truths I’ve learned as I travel is how eager people can be to help. I remember a couple of incidents in Hong Kong when Dave and I were out and about and uncertain of which direction to take. The minute we pulled out a map, someone came up to guide us. One person walked three blocks with us to make sure we reached our destination.
I’ve been reminded of this several times trips. For instance, in the Vancouver airport I noticed a peculiar sensation on my left index finger. It felt like something was running down my finger. Turned out to be blood resulting from a scratch no doubt incurred as a result of luggage schlepping.
I turned into one of those ubiquitous duty free shops and found the cosmetics counter. One of the many cosmetics counters. It’s stunning what people must spend on cosmetics when they travel based on the abundance of product. I figured that there was certain to be a box of tissues somewhere in that area and I was right. I wrapped the tissue around my finger and was off exploring.
The next stop was at one of the airline lounges to ask if my Alaska Board Room pass would do me any good there. (It didn’t.) The attendant noticed the clumsy tissue bandage and immediately insisted on retrieving an actual (too big as it turned out) bandage for me. In fact, she gave me two figuring I might need to replace one. Or perhaps that anyone this careless could easily injure herself again.
I left with a smile on my face in appreciation of the kindness.
In the Kuala Lumpur airport there were signs that directed you to “buy your taxi chit” before leaving the Arrival Hall. I knew I was going to take a taxi. I didn’t know what this chit thing was.
So at the baggage carousel I turned to the young Asian woman next to me and asked her. She responded in perfect English which was welcome because at 1:00 am my interpretive skills were at their weakest. She gave me explicit directions and explained that here you told them where you were going while still in the airport and they sold you a ticket for the amount it would cost to get you there. Done.
Later, as I was in the vicinity of the booth that sold these tickets, she called out to me, as if she had been watching for me. She made certain that I was in the right place to take care of my travel. Can you imagine how much that was appreciated at that hour and at that point in my travel?
Another time I was traveling from one city to another by train. At the time, I happened to have a sprained knee and even wore a brace. The train deck where our train was scheduled was three levels below the entry to the station. As an added negative complication, the elevators were out.
I stood at the top of the set of stairs and tried to figure out how to maneuver the stairs while making sure my roller back made the trip with me.
Suddenly someone ran up behind me, grabbed my bag, ran with it down all the stairs and left it at the bottom. To say I was shocked and alarmed doesn’t quite describe my condition. The person, perhaps a student but not a thief, saw my dilemma and without a word took action and left the area without a word.
Now, let’s be clear. I was over the moon relieved that all I now had to do was gimp my way to the bottom of the stairs. Suitcase already delivered. On the other hand, I don’t recommend my savior’s methods. It would have been safer for all of us had she (yes, this was a girl) had said something to me first. I couldn’t have caught her, but Dave could have. Maybe she was in a hurry.
Again, once in Washington, D.C. for a conference, I noticed that I’d pulled the hem out on my slacks. Happily, I have a sewing kit in my collection of travel tools. Unhappily, at 5:30 am my eyes were not good enough to thread that needle. (Ok, for the record it probably doesn’t really matter what time it is. The eye of that needle is entirely too small.) The futility of continued attempts dawned on me and I gave up.
Choices were paltry. There was no scotch tape in the room, the field expediency tool for ripped hems. However, if I went to the front desk, I might find young eyes to thread the needle.
So that’s what I did. I dressed in casual clothes to go to breakfast and made a stop at the front desk. The receptionist got a very good chuckle out of my request, but she easily threaded that needle.
My pants are hemmed and the button I didn’t know was missing has been replaced with one from the front desk. I’m ready for the day. I’m enchanted by these random acts of helpfulness and looking forward to the next one.
I’ve been thinking a lot about friends and friendships lately. You know the saying “A friend in need is a friend in deed.” Very true whichever end of that equation you are on—the friend in need or the friend in deed. But it turns out you don’t actually have to know the other person to be the friend in need or deed.
I saw an older woman in the grocery store looking longingly at a can on the top shelf of a selection of soups. She actually started to stretch a bit to get ahold of the can, but reconsidered. She was fairly short and looked a little fragile. How easy it is to ask “May I reach that for you?”
I have to comment on the way I characterized this woman as “older.” Many of you fine readers may think of me that way. That’s totally justifiable. But in this case, I was tall enough and sufficiently nimble to grab that can of soup for her. We don’t have to be superheroes or saints to help. Just able.
I was privileged yesterday at work to help a “damsel in distress”. The blessing was all mine. Penny H