The Kindness of Strangers
Monday, July 4, 2011 at 9:17PM I volunteered at the Holocaust Museum today. It is the 4th of July and thought what better place to be. I also decided to ride my motorcycle in because in their infinate wisdom, Metro decided to close the Smithsonian station. I found a parking spot about a block away at a metered spot with a number of other motorcycles. I had a wonderful and busy day at the museum. When I came back to my bike a number of hours later, I discovered this:
Seriously?
There was no way I could straighten the bike up without hitting the car. I was totally flabbergasted. The total disregard and thoughtlessness of the "cager" was astounding to me. You see ... there was nothing in front of the car ... except the cross street. There was absolutely no reason for the car to back in as closely as it did ... and in order to get that close, they had to have someone who backed them up.
As I stood their speechless staring at the car and trying to figure out how the heck I was going to get my bike out, another biker came over and was just as astounded as I was. He apparently worked in the building I was parked in front of and went inside to get the security guard who came out and apologized saying that if he had seen the guy park like that, he would have told him to move. The two very kind gentlemen grabbed my bike and physically pulled it away from the car. Something that I would not have been able to do alone. My thanks go out to these kind gentlemen. I wish there was a way I could repay you.
motorcycle in motorcycle
Reader Comments (3)
I'm glad you got help when you needed it. You can help them by paying it forward and helping someone else in need. Those two guys have already received back by helping you. You simply can't do anything--good or bad--to someone else without doing it to yourself at the same time. Your gratitude for their kindness will go with them and bless them in turn.
Take care, Lida, and keep shining that great smile of yours wherever you go.
Paying it forward is the only way to go! :-)
For the biker, your thanks will go a long way with him. There is a way to 'repay' the Security Officer though: a letter of 'commendation' to the Chief of Security for the Smithsonian, bringing to his/her attention the officer's action on your behalf, and requesting that a copy of your letter be included in his personnel file. If you don't have his name, providing the date, time, location/building he was working, and description of the individual should be enough to identify him by the duty roster.
Citizens are quick to write letters of 'Complaint', but "attaboys (girls)" are hard to get, no matter far you go out of your way to help someone.
I'm glad they helped you out.