Today, I had to visit the local utilities office to straighten out a problem that could not be accomplished online. I was third in line. Only one window open out of 6-8 at noon time. The line behind me ended at the door. A tiny, elderly Asian woman was trying to get the clerk to help her with a problem with her bill. Her gas charges were being made through a secondary company and she had not made this change. She asked the clerk to help her cancel it. He said, over and over, you must call the 800 number on the bill and ask them to cancel it. “Can you help me, I don’t know how to do that?” “No. Can you have a family member or a friend help?” “I have only my husband and he does not speak English. I have no friends.” The clerk was adamant and told her to move aside, as there was a long line. A young man was next in line. He pointed to a nearby chair and asked the elderly lady to sit down for a minute. His task was completed quickly. He walked over to the waiting lady, took out his “smart phone”, called the 800 number and dealt with her problem in a couple of minutes. At this moment, that woman had a friend.
The
photo: a little girl at the Carnaval parade on Sunday reaching out her hand to connect
with a group of Peruvian dancers moving down the street.
I realized that the issue of kindness had been in my blog last summer. Several meaningful quotes that relate to the scene in the PG&E office:
http://duffaxsom.blogspot.com/2014/08/not-quite-universal.html
I realized that the issue of kindness had been in my blog last summer. Several meaningful quotes that relate to the scene in the PG&E office:
http://duffaxsom.blogspot.com/2014/08/not-quite-universal.html
Doesn't this do your heart good, Duff - to know that people like this person exist? An ordinary person with a kind heart willing to take a few minutes of his time made such a difference to this woman. Let me be that person on another occasion. Both your story and your photo are making me smile on a cloudy CO evening. PS I didn't know you spent time in the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan river valleys, Duff. I thought you were a city boy (Denver). They are such gorgeous areas. The CO River and the Roaring Fork were wild and high in their banks last week. It was so green in the valleys due to all our spring moisture.
ReplyDeleteI thought you might connect with this act of kindness. It so brightened my day/week/month/year. Yes, I spent so much time in those valleys. My Mom and Dad retired to Glenwood when they left Denver. Seemed always like home to me.
Deleteoh how lovely. How welcome it is to hear of these little touches, too rare but so memorable!
ReplyDeleteOh, so rare it seems. What I did not mention was that the young man looked like one of those millennial tech types that everyone seems to be bashing these days here in San Francisco. I will look at the "Google buses" now and think of his kindness.
DeleteThis makes me so happy. There is good in the world.
ReplyDeleteMissing you!
Yes, Kim, we must never forget how much good there is in people when they are given a chance. Hope to see you before too long. I need to come to Denver where you are all in one place! Much love.
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