Fun Monday #32, A Good Deed

Nikki at anticsofacrazymom is hosting this weeks Fun Monday.
We've seen your shelves, peeked inside your cabinets, looked at what your house looks like in both the summer and winter, viewed at some of our handmade pieces and even talked about our best friends. Now it's time we do something. Have you ever had someone out of the goodness of their heart do something for you without anything asked in return? Offered you money when you needed it the most? Helped you change a flat tire in the pouring rain or even just simply held the door open for you when you had your hands full? For Monday, September 10th, we are challenged with doing a good deed. I am not looking for a story of when you have offered your help in the past, I actually want you in the next two weeks to go out and help someone. Go visit a nursing home, cook dinner for someone sick or with a new baby, donate to a charity or even send just a "thinking of you card" to someone who needs it. It doesn't matter what your good deed is, or how great it is. It just needs to help someone!

* * * * * *

I never have set out intentionally looking for an opportunity to do a good deed, although that would be a desired objective.

Good deeds generally are something that you happen upon and respond out of the goodness of your heart.

Such was the case one morning while I was in California visiting the newborn grandson, Dinkum.

My daughter Jen was asleep with the baby, finding relief from a migraine. Grandpa (the hubby) was out riding his bicycle. I spent the morning with five-year old Goober and 2-year old peanut.

I knew that my responsibility would include walking Goober to the bus stop for her 11:30 afternoon kindergarten bus.

When the time arrived, I helped Goober and Peanut into their shoes and we walked out into the 100-degree plus weather for the two-block walk.

I was thankful for the shade of the tree and the fact that neither of the children seemed bothered by the oppressive heat as we waited for the bus.

I noticed an elderly woman with a cane walking on the far side of the street. ‘She must be a glutton for punishment just like the hubby,’ I thought, ‘exercising on such a hot day.’

The bus arrived, Goober climbed aboard, and Peanut and I began walking back home.

I was surprised to see that the woman had crossed the street and doubled back towards us.

As we approached her, she raised her hand to her forehead to wipe off her perspiration as she spoke.

“Do you know where OLD GREY MARE Drive is?” she asked. “I went out for my morning walk and turned the wrong way. Now I don’t know my way back.”

The streets in the development where my daughter lives are ridiculous. Names change at intersections and the asphalt curves, circles, and dead end in the most bizarre designs.

I didn’t know where that street was and explained to her that I was a visitor.

Just then the mail carrier drove around the corner, so I flagged him down.

“Do you know where Old Grey Mare Drive is?” was my hopeful query.

What a shocker when his reply was uncertain. He knew it was in the area. He pointed in the direction that he thought it was.

The woman thanked us for our help and began ambling away in the course he had suggested.

Meanwhile, Peanut and I needed to get out of the sun.

I worried about her the five minutes it took little Peanuts legs to walk the two blocks home.

“We’re home,” I informed Jen, when I pushed open her bedroom door. “But, I’m going to jump into the car and see if I can help a lost elderly woman find her way home.”

Fortunately, Jen had a good idea where the street was (close to the park where she takes the kids to play.)

I drove down the street and found the woman quickly.

After helping her into my daughters SUV, I introduced myself. She told me her name was Yvonne, and she had recently moved in with her daughter. I suspected it was an elder care situation.

I drove the way Jen took me with the kids on the previous day. I found Old Gray Mare Drive right where Jen said it would be.

I hopped out and walked around to open the door and help her down.

She breathed a deep sigh, thanked me with much dignity, and then spoke quietly.

“My daughter is going to be soooooo mad at me,”

I smiled and waved my goodbye. Then the blogger inside of me smiled again - because I realized she had just completed my Fun Monday assignment.



PS. The other good deed is - we opened our yard up to the Hospice Annual Pond & Garden Fund Raiser this weekend. We've been extremly busy this past week trying to get it perfect. We know the fund raising was a success - and I will be posting pictures of We Went To A Garden Party - Year Two sometime in the next week.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Nice one Pam. Old people tend to die in the heat, so you may have even saved her life.
BlondeBlogger said…
You have such a pure heart! I love the idea of posting good deeds on the net, but I'm of the belief that you don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (or however that Bible verse goes). So I'm always uncomfortable saying what I'm doing.

But for the purpose of spreading good will (which is a good purpose), I will say that I'm doing an upcoming walk for the Alzheimer's Association, make preemie blankets for our local hospital, am making meals for a mom who is a fellow homeschooler and is dying of cancer, and I also try to do little acts of kindness every day (holding a door for someone, helping an elderly person reach something high up on a grocery shelf, etc.)
Hootin Anni said…
What a wonderful share!! I loved reading every word, and am so happy you found the street for her. She, I'm sure, was very much appreciative!!! You did good.
DesLily said…
ok.. so if i read this right i need to live near you! lol.. honestly, I have always had bad sense of direction and can get lost at the drop of the hat!
Anonymous said…
Wow, I am so impressed. Not many people would do that. You are awesome.
Debs said…
That is terrific!! You probably did save her life. The heat is a killer to many elderly and young ones.
Gattina said…
You see ! You helped her and she helped you, lol ! I wish I would have somebody around like you because I get always lost in new areas ! At the place of sense of orientation I have a cheddar cheese ! Of course I would have tried to help this lady too without any guarantee in which town we would finally land.
BarnGoddess said…
That was indeed a good deed!!

I think you saved her life. Heat kills old people.
The world needs more of my mom!!
Beckie said…
Fantastic one! Good deeds just happen - like yours.
Beccy said…
Two great deeds Pamela. I'm glad you were able to help the lady home...and I hope her daughter wasn't too cross!
Anonymous said…
Oh I was hoping you were going to go get your vehicle and help her and you did! Heat can really take it's tole on the elderly so you really did a fantastic deed for her. I love how good deeds just come naturally for so many people!
SwampAngel65 said…
That was a very kind and thoughtful thing you did. I'm sure she'll never forget your kindness.
Anonymous said…
She was very lucky to have had you come by!
The Ex said…
Best one I've read so far!
ChrisB said…
I think that was something very special you did for that lady. I do hope her daughter wasn't mad at her as she should be pleased at the kindness of a stranger :)
Anonymous said…
I'm so glad you were able to find her and get her where she needed to be. On the inside, she must've been so scared! Talk about being at the right place at the right time :).

Can't wait to see your pictures, I KNOW they're gonna be DELISH!
Unknown said…
That was a great thing and didn't end with just pointing the right direction. A wonderful stranger you are!
How wonderful of you. I hate to think how that may have turned out had you not decided to help.
Anonymous said…
That was so nice of you. I think we tend to get caught up in our own lives that we forget about helping others. Great job!
Unknown said…
That is such a lovely deed, Pamela.

This reminds me of a little old Scotish lady who lived a block away from us when my first child was a newborn. I used to see her walking past our house everyday...and if I went out to run errands, I'd see her walking down the busy road toward the shops. After seeing her a few times, I began giving her a lift every time I went out. She used to pop round for afternoon tea and ended up being great company for us.

And you're so brave to have held a fund raiser in your garden. I'd probably completely freak trying to get everything ready!
Susie said…
That was a such a loving gesture. I'm looking forward to seeing the garden party pictures. The cause sounds like a very good one!
xo
Anonymous said…
You're the best, Pamela. Seriously.
Unknown said…
You certainly did a good deed. You certainly went above and beyond. I loved how simple it was & still quite profound.
theotherbear said…
Aww aren't you a sweetheart :)
Plus, think of all that extra good karma you collected for that.
my4kids said…
That was great of you to go back and find her to help her find the way.
Jeanette said…
Pamela you are a very thoughtful person to help that dear old lady home.Well my good deed today I help a very old man on walking stick at the post office retrieve his mail, then took my sister shopping, then visit a dear neighbour and made her a cuppa.that was my day
Anonymous said…
That is such an awesome good deed. She may have gone missing or had heat stroke had you not helped out. It is wonderful when situations present themselves like that and we have the great reward of feeling we have made an impact in someone's life.
Anonymous said…
This just proves God has angels watching out for us, because this lady had you as her angel, to make sure she made it home.

Since living in Arizona, the heat has claimed many elderly lives,so I really agree with everyone, you quite possibly saved her life.

BTW~ Thanks for the sweet comment you left for me, that is really nice of you. It made me smile this morning.
Anonymous said…
You deserve a medal for your good deeds!

Well done.
Kaytabug said…
Gosh Darn it Pamela your deed brought tears to my eyes!!! I really hope her daughter was not mad at her...
I love your FM today!!
Anonymous said…
awww that was sweet of you pam... that must have been so hard on her walking around in that heat
i'm a bit weepy this week anyway, but your story made me cry. thanks for sharing it - and thanks for helping just one old, lost woman! i can only hope for someone like you to come along when I need help myself!
Anonymous said…
It does not take long to be helpful to someone and it can save a life.


Here from Carnival of BCs.

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