A few years ago my sister and I had the opportunity to travel around Europe together. For the most part we had a great time together. However, there was this one night… you know how it goes. Anyway, we got off the train in Brussels and headed to our hostel. I had figured out how to get there before getting off the train, unfortunately, we used the wrong exit from the train station and things just went south from there. Pretty soon it was dark and raining. Karen was less than amused by the change in circumstances. As we were standing on the street corner trying to figure out where we were and how to get where we wanted to be a car pulled up along side us and the man inside offered to give us a ride to our hostel. Said it wasn’t far and he’d be glad to help out. Now, I’m not the most worldly-wise girl, but I did remember my kindergarten lesson about strangers. However, before I could even open my mouth, Karen had her backpack off and was sitting in the backseat staring at me. I distinctly remember standing with my umbrella in one hand and the guidebook in the other, mouth hanging open, just staring at my sister. I remember also clearly thinking, “Well, I’m sure not going home without her” and I got in the car, too. Luckily, he really was a very nice man and he brought us directly to our hostel and all was well.
I’ve given my sister a lot of grief about this incident over the last few years. I still shake my head sometimes but it’s sure a fun story. Last Monday I flew home from Montana after 10 days with family. I got on the bus to take me to the car in economy parking and sat next to a cute little 20 year old from Lexington, Kentucky. As we were leaving the terminal he started asking funny questions like, “So, this will take us to the $8 parking lot, right?” “Do all the stops look different?” and the like. Turns out, he hadn’t written down his stop and he had no idea where he was parked. Top it all off, his friend had driven while he was sleeping in the car and his friend had not returned with him. We went all the way through the economy parking lot and at the last stop he was still sitting there looking more and more miserable. As I got off the bus I turned around and saw his sad little half panicked face and told him to grab his suitcase and I’d help him find his car. It wasn’t until he loaded his bag in the truck and was sitting next to me that it occurred to me that never in a million years would I pick up a hitchhiker, but that’s pretty much what I’d just done. And then I looked at him again, and realized I could totally take him. So I just drove up and down the rows of cars until he finally found his car. He was cute and funny and so very appreciative. As he was walking away from the truck he came running back and threw $20 in the window with a “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” So now I get to buy myself something fun.
I came away from this experience with two thoughts. One, when did 20 year olds become cute in the “I want to pat your head and squeeze your cheeks,” kind of way? And two, eight years ago, karma knew I was going to pick up a stranded 20 year old and help him find his car in a gigantic airport parking lot and to balance that out, we ended up with a safe ride in Brussels. Yep, Karen, you're welcome.
