GOOD PEOPLE CAN STILL BE FOUND

In these days of tacky news (dissatisfaction with government) and too much criminal activity, it is comforting to know that life goes on somewhat normally and people are super in a small town.

In spite of the allegations flying in Washington D.C., the local accidents, and robberies, there was a kind-hearted fellow who put a smile on my face recently. I’ll give him a short name and call him Al. He made me realize that we are just a small part of what goes on in the world, but we live in a world that’s too busy sometimes.

I keep busy and don’t always have time to get everything done that needs doing each day. Things carry over until I finally have a slower than normal day and I can try to catch up. That’s a rare happening. I have errands and appointments that make me wonder how my house is still holding up under the clutter. Even my pickup truck suffers in the course of my “too busy” life.

I’ve had a small (very small) part broken for a while and I was reminded of it each time I tried my windshield washer squirters. The fluid would just not squirt over a small sputter. I found a hole in the plastic “Y” piece that connects the hose from the tank to the fluid release line below the windshield.

It might have been a quick task to just go buy the part and fix it. Better said than done in my world. After about six weeks of just not getting around to it, I finally made time to go by a parts store and check it out.

When I went in the store, I saw the face of the young man who helped me once before. Until that moment, I had not recalled the time my headlight went out and he fixed it by plugging in a new bulb. I explained my dilemma and he immediately wanted to go look at the part to fix it properly.

I popped the hood and he surveyed the situation. Without hesitation, he proceeded to remove the broken part, using something in his pocket to help pry it off. Things under hood don’t usually just peel or pop off easily. He was having some difficulty in getting the part off and had to remove the section of hose extending to the farthest outlet.

Al went inside and found the little plastic “Y” part and disappeared in the back to retrieve some hose line for replacement. I just stood there and watched. He went back out to the car and put the part on, then attached the new hose line and said, “try it out.”

I turned on the windshield wipers and fluid squirted far and freely like it should, all over the window. Relief, I thought, now I can have a cleaner window when I need it.

I went back inside with him to pay the bill. The part cost $1.58. The section of hose he replaced was free. And his time was priceless. I couldn’t even give him a tip for fixing it for me.

Al was helpful, generous with his time, and a credit to his employer for the example he set for the business. I couldn’t say thank you enough that day. I’m still thinking now that this same young man has a reputation that should be applauded, because he will continue to grow and age with friendly, satisfied customers who will remember his kindness. I’m sure there are lots more examples of goodness out there, but this one touched my life enough to put that smile on my otherwise busy face.

There should be more pats on the back for good-deed-doers. I sometimes think about this thankless world and how we take for granted the good deeds of others, like law enforcement officers, firemen, emergency personnel, etc., who help people in some way every day.

Put a smile on someone’s face - reach out and help someone do something today.