Random Acts of Kindness Blogfest

I've met a lot of really amazing people during my travels in the blogosphere; writers who inspire admiration and hope in me by sharing their stories, ides and knowledge.  But every now and again I come across a story that goes beyond amazing.  E.C. Stilson has one of those stories.  She's lived through the kind of loss and tragedy that most of us can scarcely dream of and turned it into the kind-of life changing hope that moves worlds.  She's also formed a growing publishing company dedicated not only to changing lives through the written word but through sheer goodwill as well: they donate a large percentage of their profits to charity each year.

Elisa's experiences have taught her a lot about how the kindness of others can change lives and she's designed this blog hop to help bring those stories to light.  Everyone participating has signed on to share how a random act of kindness changed them and to share these stories with the world by having them published in an anthology.  And, because it's Wayman Publishing, all proceeds from the anthology's sales will go to charity.  I can't imagine a better way to celebrate today- a day when we give thanks to the men and women who show unimaginable kindness by giving their lives to protect our country and our way of life.  While it's a small acknowledgement of an incredibly large service it is, nonetheless, my way of saying thanks.  Here's my story:

An Angel on the Highway

The kindest thing that anyone has ever done for me came at a low point in my life.  I was 19 years old and had just been unceremoniously dumped by my first real boyfriend.  First time the words "I love you" were exchanged, first discussion of any kind of future together, first time either of us had made love.  The break-up came in the form of an AIM conversation and I was semi blind-sided.  Needless to say, I was devastated.

So I did what most 19 year-olds would do: I sought the consolation of my parents and went home for the weekend.  I loaded up my bag, threw it in my car and started the long drive down to my parents house in New York.  It took roughly three hours to get there from my college in Vermont and I was too distraught to think about waiting till morning.

It was dark and it was raining (because the scene wasn't cliché enough) and although I knew the road well I was looking at it through a steady stream of tears.  So I didn't see whatever it was that I must have run over and I never figured out what gave me that flat tire.

So there I was, ten o'clock at night, stuck on the side of the highway, in the rain and rather hysterical at the new development.  I had never changed a flat tie before, so I didn't really have a clue what I was doing.  And although I had a jack, tire iron and spare in the trunk I was scared and my efforts to get the jack set properly under the car were futile.

It was one of those moments where you think "Well this has gotta be it, right?"  I figured it was just a matter of time before someone failed to see my car and crashed into me, ending the terrible night for good.  Thinking that this was the bottom of the barrel, as 19 year-olds who haven't really lived yet are prone to do.  And it was just then that someone pulled over behind me and changed everything.

He was a nice-enough looking man, middle-aged and well kempt.  But I was scared out of my mind and thinking of horror stories I'd heard about girls stranded on the highway.  But he didn't offer to give me a ride, he simply asked if he could help.  I don't remember what I said to him, other than a breathless "please", but I remember what he said to me.

He told me that I'd placed the jack in the wrong place, which was why I couldn't get it up.  And he commented that it was a funny thing that he happened to be driving by because just last month his mother, elderly and no longer terribly able-bodied, had gotten a flat tire herself.  Someone, he explained as he pulled my flat tire off the car, had pulled over and changed her tire for her.  He was so grateful, but he didn't know how to get in contact with the man to thank him.  He was happy that he was there that night because he felt like he could somehow pay him back by doing the same service for me.

I stood there, looking rather dumb and awe-struck, as I listened to him explain how some other savior had saved his mother and I watched him save me.  I had no words to try and thank him properly when he was done.  But I smiled, in spite of my tears and addled mind, and he thanked me.

The rest of the ride home was uneventful and I ended up back at my parents' and safely in bed by midnight.  I tried to explain to them how this man had come by and changed my flat tire.  I think they were more frightened that I'd been in that situation in the first place.  (It wasn't long after that they bought me my first cell phone.)  But I was adamant that he was nothing short of an angel and I fell asleep that night wondering why I'd never even gotten his name.

But at least now I've shared his story with all of you.  I'd like to think in some small way that makes a difference.

Have you ever encountered an angel?  What did they do for you?  If you want to share your story you can sign up anytime between now and May 31st.  Just click here.  And as an added bonus, Wayman publishing is hosting a giveaway!  Buy any of Wayman Publishing's Books - some only 99 cents and several for free- and automatically be entered into their iPad mini sweepstakes!  Visit this link for more info:  http://www.waymanpublishing.com/

And don't forget, this is a Blog Hop!  There's more kindness to see...

---

1. blogfest | Visit blog	2. The Desert Rocks | Visit blog
3. Wayman Publishing | Visit blog	4. Fishducky Finally | Visit blog
5. La Tejana | Visit blog	6. Poptart Manifesto | Visit blog
7. Its Rhyme Time | Visit blog	8. Jaimie Engle | Visit blog
9. A bestselling author describes how her intuition urged her to go to a book store - and wound up making her the "guardian angel" who saved a toddler. | Visit blog	10. Author Peter Thomas Senese | Visit blog
11. So many random acts of kindness happen quickly. Even so, I have witnessed them, and even performed some. Excellent bloghop. | Visit blog	12. Debra Kristi | Visit blog
13. Dee Ready | Visit blog	14. Honey, to Survive Boys, you need a LOT of RAOK. Juli @ Surviving Boys | Visit blog
15. Fidas Poetry | Visit blog	16. I would like to write about several ladies in my church who helped me so much while I was in school. | Visit blog
17. The Social Media Panel | Visit blog	18. The Voice of Parenthood | Visit blog
19. Nicki Elson | Visit blog	20. Helping a homeless man in the rain | Visit blog
21. Its Rhyme Time | Visit blog	22. R. K. Grow - reading. writing. blogging. | Visit blog
23. I will do a blog post on different kind things Ive seen done in the Hospice I work for. | Visit blog	24. After a bad injury, my friends showered me with one of my greatest pleasures. They filled my bedroom with tons of gorgeous house plants. | Visit blog
25. I will be blogging about a time when food insecurity was a real issue for me and my son and a friends obedience to God and her random act of kindness | Visit blog	26. Random Act of Kindness Post | Visit blog
27. Random Act of Kindness Post | Visit blog	28. Jennifer Probst | Visit blog
29. Random Acts of Kindness Post | Visit blog	30. Random Act Of Kindness link up - TBA | Visit blog
31. Been there, done that | Visit blog	32. What an amazing hop idea. I would be honored to have a place in it. Im so sorry for your loss and thank God you kept the faith with a test like that! | Visit blog
33. Random acts of kindness | Visit blog	34. Random Act of Kindness | Visit blog
35. An enlightening story of how an off shore customer helped the author understood her speech delayed son through his music. | Visit blog	36. Helicopter Mom and Just Plane Dad love random acts of kindness! | Visit blog
37. I would like to write about my life, love and help after the loss of my daughter | Visit blog	38. Hubbies is out of town, alone with 3 kids and guess what? We get 12 inches of snow and I have no clue how to work the snowblower. | Visit blog
39. I plan on writing about our amazing support through our trials in life. From surviving a deadly bacteria to having a son that is severely handicapped. | Visit blog	40. Ill be sharing an old story about something that happened one Christmas Day in a Chinese Restaurant. | Visit blog
41. The story of one of the kindest acts Ive ever received, also involving a car. | Visit blog	42. Ill share the time a stranger sent $1, 100 to help us (starving, poor students) move after graduate school. | Visit blog
43. Ill share the time a stranger sent $1, 100 to help us (starving, poor students) move after graduate school. | Visit blog	44. Ill have to think on it and come with a good one. | Visit blog
45. Today I received an orchid from a friend because my Dad is extremely ill. | Visit blog	46. Being Catholic | Visit blog
47. A newly revived blog that I am going to use for a variety of topics. | Visit blog	48. Inspirational-sometimes serious, sometimes funny stories to add a touch to your day. (Many of them are true or based on true stories like from the Bib | Visit blog
49. I met two wonderful people when I needed them. I will write about their random act of kindness. | Visit blog	50. Random Acts of Kindness Blog Fest - I will write about several acts of kindness and how this can be shared in many ways. | Visit blog
51. I have had some amazing things happen over the course of my life. . . It is very cool when things just come together! | Visit blog	52. Bames Live | Visit blog
53. My poem Connections. | Visit blog	54. Life happens, and Kindness should accompany it. S. Kane | Visit blog
55. Random Act of Kindness | Visit blog