Yesterday on the way home from the morning school run, a car in front of me got stuck at a junction, on a hill, on the ice. There were more cars behind me, and other cars waiting to turn into our road. After about a minute of her wheel-spinning, and slowly rolling backwards towards my car, I got out and instructed her to take the breaks off and apply gentle acceleration, while I pushed her over the icy patch.
She was REALLY apologetic, and wouldn’t stop thanking me, like I’d just saved her life or something.
The thing that I didn’t understand, was that all the drivers in the cars around us bar 1 (there may have been 6 or 7 other cars) were all men. Not one of them got out to help us while we slowly got the lady up the hill and round the corner.
A she drove off, she was still shouting thank you, and still apologising.
A few junctions ahead, as she turned a corner, she stuck her hand out and waved, then disappeared down another road.
Sitting here this morning having seen her in the distance, I stil can’t decide which is weighing on my mind more; the lack of help from others, or how immensely thankful and apologetic she was.
Shouldn’t have to be that way.
Good on you for helping out. I was touched by the kindness of my neighbours – not just in my street, but the whole estate – in helping me when my car got stuck in the last snow. Snow shovels, newspaper under the tyres, pushing, advice on how to use the ABS thingy. Wonderful. I wanted to stop and hug them when the car eventually moved – but of course I had to keep going. Thank you for being someone like them.
Yes – YES. I had to do a few consultations this last week, and have seen people (usually in smaller roads, side streets and cul-de-sacs all shovelling drives and helping each other out. It's been a wonderful thing to see. I just wish it was more of a normal thing to see.
There is so much apathy in the world that actions such as yours are heroic, when they should be commonplace kindness.
EXACTLY. I don't want to be heroic, y'know? I'd rather just know someone isn't sitting in their car, bricking it over whether they're gonna be stuck and/or crash.
As The Real Cie said, your simple act of human kindness was probably heroic in a world I don't often understand. Stereotypically, I wonder how many of those men would have shifted themselves had the damsel in distress been buxom, with legs up to there and wearing a low top and a mini skirt? Although in this weather she would probably need de-icing first if dressed like that?
It's the small gestures that count. And actions sometimes speak loudest.
pah to all the others who couldn't be bothered to help. I hope those men weren't quietly enjoying the show from behind their wheels!
Nope; most of them were trying to avoid making eye contact.