This afternoon, I drove the old ute/truck up to the highway get petrol, so I could take some rubbish to the dump (we don’t have rubbish collection here because we are too far out of town). After filling the tank, I went into the shop and got some orange juice and, as I was paying, a tall, elderly man in a white shirt and bicycle shorts tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I were heading east.
At first I was a bit alarmed at being tapped on the shoulder by someone I’d never met before but, after I said, “Sorry, no, I’m going the other way”, I watched him go to the refrigerator and get some water. He was perspiring a lot because it’s 40c today – very hot!
I was still paying when he came back to the counter and I said, “I’m so sorry but my son has just had an operation and I need to get back home with this orange juice. Can you just have a rest here and carry on? I’m sure someone will be able to give you a lift.” He then told me he had already ridden over 100 kms today and his destination was only a further 12 kms. I said, “sorry” again and left.
But on the way home to Son, I thought better and decided to get home, get Son and go back and rescue the man. Son (despite his philanthropic ideals) was less than impressed. Nevertheless we raced back to the petrol station in the ute and the cyclist was still there. I beeped the horn and yelled out, “We’ve come to rescue you!” His look of relief made it all worthwhile.
It was only then that we remembered that the passenger space in the ute would only allow two people, not three, especially one with a massive plastic brace on him. So, as the cyclist was loading his bicycle into the back of the ute, I went back into the shop and (yay!) one of the customers was a neighbour and agreed to take Son home. Whew.
Then, on our way to the cyclist’s destination, he told me that he was 72, that his brother had died yesterday, that he loved cycling, and that he wrote poetry. I then told him a bit about Husband, Son, the birds and my own writing.
When I dropped him off, he rummaged around in his knapsack and gave me one of his books of poetry. He signed it, I shook his hand, he kissed me on the cheek, I said “Thanks for the book!” and I watched him ride into the heat glare.
Then I turned around and headed home to face Son’s glare – hehe!
jmgoyder 
Tell Son that these are the moments that make life worth living and make sense of a senseless world. M.L.
Yes, he agrees now, but only in retrospect! Thanks, Ma!
The kindness of strangers…what a nice thing you did.
I’m not actually that nice at all – part of me thought what the hell are you doing, old man!
Poor Son 😉 You did a nice thing 🙂
Yes – it’s my good deed for the year – haha!
Hi,
What an incredible encounter, that is just amazing, and what a Thank You from your passenger. It was very nice of you to go back and give him a lift. 🙂
Yeah well I have a bit of an empathy thing for old men – hehe!
More seriously, yes it was quite surreal and lovely.
I hope that next time when I am knackered out on my bike, I meet your UK equivalent. Of course I don’t have a book of poems to hand out so I had better get some written quick.
Haha! I did think of you at the time. This guy was going from the deep-south of Western Australia up to the mid-south. How he got as far as he did amazes me – he looked like he was going to have a heart attack! The funniest thing is he asked me to drop him off before the town so the other cyclists wouldn’t know he got a ride!
I’m glad you helped him out, although I can certainly see why you had to think twice about it!
Interestingly, I would not have helped if it had been a younger man – I would’ve been nervous.
AWESOME and this is a reblog for sure. LOVED this.
Yahoo – reblogged!
It was a great one and I think it deserved to be reblogged. 🙂
Thanks – I am going out now to look for another stranded cyclist – hehe!
I love that story. LIfe presents us opportunities and I am glad you took it.
Unfortunately the guy isn’t on the net so I will have to communicate with him and his wife by snail mail! I told him to drop by on his way back to his home but he said he’d have 150 cyclists with his so I said ‘forget it!’
hahah. Now that is a visual, you leading 150 cyclists home like the guy in the little plane thing leading the birds flying to their summer home.
I’m actually a little nervous that they will drop in, since our little country road is on their way home!
Well, if they do, just enjoy. I have had fifteen motorcycles pull up in my yard at once before…that is not 150 but where we lived that was a LOT. LOL
I think I will just go out for the day!
hahahaha might be a good idea. LOL
Off I go!
Reblogged this on Work the Dream and commented:
Read an amazing story of how we make ripples in other people’s lives. This is great.
Thank you very much!
These are the experiences in life we must not miss, kudos to you and to him for offereing you a gem of a book. and don’t sweat it, our sons will see one day, they will see
Yes, it was great! Thanks for your comment.
Awesome story. 🙂
Thanks!!
Hi Julie, what a great encounter and story! I’ve just started following your blog today on the advice of Donna Mazza. She is allowing me to use my new food blog as a creative piece for the Writing for Publication unit. Hope you have a great week, I look forward to reading more. Mandy
Yay, Donna and yay, you!
Lovely to meet you Mandy – I will check out your food blog.
Thanks! It needs some attention, but I’m getting there! 🙂
Well, I need some food inspiration anyway, so good timing!
Great charming moments! Funny about son (:
Yeah!!!
People like you make the world go ’round. Great story and so happy it had a good ending. There are plenty of good people still doing good things. 🙂
I am not good – I just couldn’t stand the guilt of leaving that man stranded – hehe!
I am very, very touched…. and I have no idea why….!
Thank you, Julie.
Warm regards,
Mohini
Thanks!
Sometimes you have to go by your gut instincts and take a chance on helping a stranger – tomorrow a stranger may go out of their way to help you and return the favour.
It’s a hard decision though. We read about terrible things happening in the news everyday.
Yes, you never know, but he did look pretty unthreatening!
An angel disguised as Julie. I so love it. And protectiive son? He’s a keeper for sure.
Son’s fury is not for the faint-hearted although luckily is is short-lived!
An inspirational story. Thanks for sharing. I just found your blog today because it was reblogged, and it is something special.
Thanks Skip!
What a wonderful encounter. Thanks for stopping by my blog and giving me the chance to visit yours. My day feels better already! 🙂
Thanks to you too!
that was a good cal lto go back to pick the man up.Great story…Jane
Yes it was a real one-off experience!
This is heart warming. I wrote a similar blog recently, but I see by comparison that my heart was no nearly as big as yours. My daughter-in-law sent me email (did not post on my blog) saying it was hilarious, but really, she said, If that were (my grandson) wouldn’t I want someone to do that for him?
I replied that I can’t imagine our grandson making promises he can’t keep, but that I do see the point. She helps me to navigate the maze of compassion.
What a lovely response to my post – thank you very much!