pay it forward

i'm being watched. just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not erasing your programs.

i've endeavored to follow all the rules to a t (what the hell does that mean, anyway?), and i was on schedule to return promptly after my lunch break, but there were two men standing next to a vintage pickup on the side of the road. the older man was in his late 60s, i'd say, and the middle-aged man with him was holding jumper cables.

last time i lived in this town and my battery died, i stood out in the street for thirty minutes, dressed in my office attire, jumper cables in hand, and watched as a dozen or so cars drove out of my neighborhood without even slowing. i finally had to call my future husband (reason #24,593 that i married well) who detoured to jump my car. i am not an imposing figure, much as i'd like to think i can be, and it blew me away that no one would stop for an office bitch -- i mean, damsel in distress.

so now i make it a point to stop unless i have obvious safety concerns, even if it's inconvenient or i'm running late or i have to turn around and drive the wrong way down the shoulder of a one-way street.

turns out the guy's battery was stolen while the truck was parked in front of his house, so he's running off a teeny-tiny little thing more fit for a commuter coupe than an elderly pick-up. it took him a few minutes and two sets of cables, but he got her fired up and thanked me profusely, apologizing that he didn't have anything to give me. give me? it didn't cost me a thing! and the pair of them were so sweet and appreciative that i expect the warm fuzzies will last the rest of the day. npr is broadcasting about year-end donations, and one of the commentators observed that it's not always about giving money; sometimes it's about giving of your time or your talent. although wealthy people have more to give, statistically (per the npr program), economically-challenged people often give a larger percentage of what they have, and young people volunteer more time. imma scope out that truck and see if i can buy a battery for it.

ETA: husband says they don't want me to buy them a battery, so i haven't.