Stealing from the library, Paying into the "Favor Bank"
I was sitting outside the close Ballard Public Library last with my $20 Cleveland sweatshirt on typing an long email because I hadn't time at work to check them when I saw a man trying to push his car that clearly wasn't starting. After a few minutes of struggle, I went over to him and asked him if he needed a hand. We decided to push it to try and get it to start. That didn't work. I offered to drop him off somewhere and eventually he asked me if I could take him to The Fred (Fred Meyer) to get jumper cables. While in the store I consulted a girlfriend on using jumper cables (the car expert, my father, was already asleep I knew). We jumped the car. I found out he was an artist fromChicago who had moved out here 10 years ago with his wife. He was amazed at my generousity and said "You didn't have to do this you know." I told him it was no problem - really - I was glad to help. I wanted to tell him that we all need to pay into the Favor Bank so that we can cash out of it every-once-in-a-while.
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This is kind of funny, in a way. I was talking to someone, David, who told me he helped a stranger with their car. He was driving by and saw a man pushing his car, so David stopped and helped. He thought the guy was just going to get it to the side of the road but the guy kept going. David wondered where they were going so he finally asked. The guy said "my house." Turns out it was about 2 miles away. They guy never even thanked David but David said he was paying it forward. David then had to walk back to his car. He was so tired from the physical exercise that he decided he needed to lose weight. He told me this while eating a salad.
The other day I was running around trying to get food donations for the CPT benefit. I was at the Old Angle. I went to start my car and it wouldn't so I went to the Wine Bar, called Shellie and Linda who I knew were at a CPT meeting and asked if they wanted to join me. I also called Tom and asked if he could help when he got off work. And, my jumper cables were, of course, at home in my garage. Linda came to keep me company, Joy from the Wine Bar said she would jump my car right then (while working). Then Jill called and stopped by with her jumper cables. We were having so much fun, we kept partying. Then we went to meet Tom at Old Angle, Linda went home, Tom's friend Susan was there and we all enjoyed ourselves some more. They all tried to help me start my car but it wouldn't start at all. Tom said something else besides a dead battery must be wrong with my car. Jill took me home. The next day I called a tow truck. Shellie took me back to my car. The car wouldn't start and the guy said something more than just a dead battery was wrong with my car. He towed it to a mechanic. Shellie and I made a quick stop at Unique Thrift.
The mechanic said the only thing wrong with my car was a dead battery. So what was up?
What does all this mean? Maybe when we are paying it forward we are really paying ourselves in the moment. David realized he needed to lose weight and get in shape.
My seemingly bad misfortune was really a blessing. Five people cared enough about me to have fun while I was stranded and to hang out late into the night on a "school" night. Someone offered to take a break during her job to help. And someone else, during a crazy time of last minute benefit planning, stopped and helped me and had a little fun in the process. It helped me remember there are great people in my life, and for that I'm thankful. So maybe my car was trying to give me a message. :)
And about David, I don't know him well but I think I'm going to go see him, it's always good to make a new friend.
And hopefully Michelle made a new friend in Seattle.
Cindy
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