Random Acts Of Kindness

[caprcorn28]

I had an experience that really made me smile and I wanted to share it with you all...

 

We struck up a conversation ( I wish I could remember her name ) she was from NC and I had lived there for a bit so we chatted while we waited...she was hilarious. She offered to iron my shirt for me...probably guessing correctly that it would take me awhile to do it myself. She had it ready in minutes...I thanked her and went back to get dressed.

 

Just when I was about to give up, or ask a complete stranger for help, who happens to walk by me but that wonderful woman who ironed my shirt. In her sweet NC accent, she told me that I looked terrific...but where was my tie? I told her about my frustrating battle with it, pulled it out of my pocket, and in an instant, she had it on and looking sharp. I thanked her again and told her what a lifesaver she was. She just smiled and said.." honey, I've only known you for a few hours and already I'm ironing your clothes and dressing you...

 

hell, I don't even do that for my husband anymore!" She was wonderful and so helpful...and I'll never forget meeting her. I'm hoping she reads these boards. I had a wonderful cruise and had many reasons to smile...so now I'd like to hear some of your stories.

 

Ya know what I started thinking as I was reading all these things....until I came to the part (that I bolded)...I thought that you were going to say that you became a couple and have been married for years now....etc!!! It's that soap opera/romantic mind of mine I guess!! :rolleyes:

 

Thanks for the nice story!!!

[Hawaiianjessica]

After two days of reading "the worst cruise ever ...." thread, this was a breath of fresh air.

 

Thanks for the posting

 

 

Dido!!!

[ezjack1825]

I can't think of a particular moment in time at the moment, but had this quote to share from Ruth Smeltzer. I truly do try to remember it every day and then ask myself each night if I succeeded:

 

You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

[JSElliott]

There are a bunch of really great people right here on these boards. My DD (7) came home with a Flat Stanley project the day before yesterday from her first grade class. I asked one of my acquaintances on the S&SII Board if they would kindly take him along on their cruise next week and send us back a pic. Within hours, I had several other offers of people willing to take Stan on their upcoming trips too! My DD will be so thrilled that her Flat Stanley will be the most well traveled guy in class!

 

Thanks S&Sers!

 

A few years ago my son brought home a flat stanley, well, his grandparent's were going on a cruise and he asked if stanley could go. Of course they said yes. So he folded him up and sent him off to Florida. Well, 2 months went by and no Stanley had returned. When Stanley finally showed up he had luggage. :eek: Grandma and Grandpa had created clothing: tux, swim trunks, etc. There were so many pictures. Him on the formal nights in his tux, this was the formal picture that the boat takes. He even came back with tan lines. :D I've never been so jealous of a piece of plastic. I still haven't figured out how they got Stanley to snorkel. He was in a plastic zippy, but he had paper snorkel gear. I wish I could find the pictures. It was the most amazing thing. Oh, one of the cutest pics was Stanleys picture with the Captain and crew of the ship.

Well, my sons Stanley, though late arriving was the most interesting one that year. Especially when one of them assisted with a surgery. :eek: Honestly! Just goes to show how some people are just so nice.

[Cruiseboy06]

:) Wow, nice thread.

 

On my first cruise on the Paradise back in January a few people "passengers" helped me at the breakfast buffet because of my disability...I went with my aunt and grandparents.. They were usually in port when I got up, got dressed and got my breakfast in the Paris Restaurant. I didn't mind.. My aunt told me to ask assistance if I needed any... The crew were glady to help me also... I understand there would be bad experiences on every cruise, BUT YOU NEED TO GO WITH THE FLOW.. :-)

[Cruiseboy06]

:) Wow, nice thread.

 

On my first cruise on the Paradise back in January a few people "passengers" helped me at the breakfast buffet because of my disability...I went with my aunt and grandparents.. They were usually in port when I got up, got dressed and got my breakfast in the Paris Restaurant. I didn't mind.. My aunt told me to ask assistance if I needed any... The crew were glady to help me also... I understand there would be bad experiences on every cruise, BUT YOU NEED TO GO WITH THE FLOW.. :-)

 

 

Actually, the waves!!!! hehehe

[mwebb]

On our last cruise we had a 50ish single traveler "Rod" who was a cruise travel agent seated alone with our family/friends group of 15. This group included 3 teens. We did our best to make him feel welcome, even had pictures taken with him as an "adopted" family member. Our last port was Cozumel, and at our last dinner he surprized each of the 3 teens with a very elegant velvet sombrero that he picked up in Coz. He then had pictures taken with the kids and referred to them as his "3 amigos".

[kanda]

This is not cruise related, but since the topic is RAOK, I thought it would be ok to post here. When we were sightseeing in Washington DC a few years ago, we were at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. As you probably know, there are lots of people looking for names of friends and family members. There is also someone there handing out paper and pencils to rub over the names. Well, there was a guy there (ex-marine) and he said I found my buddy, but I can't reach him. So my husband and our friend lifted this guy up by holding his feet so he could trace over his friends name. It was amazing to see this guy being lifted up, and my husband and his friend obviously straining to hold him up. Everyone stopped, there were tons of people taking pictures, people were crying, and when the man fininshed and they let him down, he was crying and hugged them both. My husband said "sir, it was an honor to be able to lift you up". Then there was cheers and clapping.

[Sue L]

Even though it didn't happen on a cruise ship I do believe this qualifies. I had gotten my first computer job at Pan Am and one of our benefits was being able to fly anywhere in the system FIRST CLASS and FREE.

 

Four of us decide to go to Rio De Janiero on our first trip, but we almost didn't make it. Let me set the scene real quick. We were all dressed up in skirts and jackets, stockings and dress shoes. ( Employees had to dress this way in order to use our flight benefits). It is pouring out, buckets!

 

We start driving down the Palisades parkway which is not a good road on a nice day and my tire blows out! So here we are 4 girls (22-25yrs old) stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, in the pouring rain.

 

I get out and open the trunk, in seconds I was soaked! In about 2 minutes a car pulls up and a middled age man get out and he too was all dressed up in a beautiful suit. To say the least he was soaked in seconds. He told me to get in the car and he proceeds to change the tire for us.

 

In the car, amazed that anyone would stop in this weather. We quickly pulled money out of our wallets to thank our hero. He finished very quickly and I get out of the car to give him the money.

 

He shook my hand and refused the money. He then asked if I was married. I said no and he said "Well, I am and I want you to tell the man you marry that if he ever sees a woman stuck on the side of the road to stop and help her, because when I saw you I thought about my wife and it could have been her!"

 

I never got his name or anything, but I will never forget him!!!

 

And yes, I did get married to a guy I met at Pan Am (that's a story for another time) He has stopped and helped people along roads several times during our 21 years of marriage.

 

 

Sue

[Eliot Ness]

........My DD (7) came home with a Flat Stanley project........

This is a great thread, but for others (like me) who are wondering what a "Flat Stanley project" is, here's a link:

 

http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/valley_view/second/wolfe/stanley.html

 

John

[Ship Addict]

A few years ago my son brought home a flat stanley, well, his grandparent's were going on a cruise and he asked if stanley could go. Of course they said yes. So he folded him up and sent him off to Florida. Well, 2 months went by and no Stanley had returned. When Stanley finally showed up he had luggage. :eek: Grandma and Grandpa had created clothing: tux, swim trunks, etc. There were so many pictures. Him on the formal nights in his tux, this was the formal picture that the boat takes. He even came back with tan lines. :D I've never been so jealous of a piece of plastic. I still haven't figured out how they got Stanley to snorkel. He was in a plastic zippy, but he had paper snorkel gear. I wish I could find the pictures. It was the most amazing thing. Oh, one of the cutest pics was Stanleys picture with the Captain and crew of the ship.

Well, my sons Stanley, though late arriving was the most interesting one that year. Especially when one of them assisted with a surgery. :eek: Honestly! Just goes to show how some people are just so nice.

 

Thanks for the story Jackie. I sure hope my DD's Stan turns out just as interesting! Anybody else out there want to join the fun? Here is the link to Stan. You can download/print out the picture. Take a pic of him (with or without other people in the pic) doing something cool where you live or where you're going over Spring Break. Upload your pic to the web and send me the link. midgetpdp @ consolidated.net. Please put Flat Stanley project in the Subject Line so I don't think you're a complete loon. And tell me something brief in the email that describes what he is doing and where he is. I think her project is due at the end of Spring Break, which would be March 19 for us. Thanx in advance to anyone who wants to help out!

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/midgetpdp

 

Paige and Kelsey

 

And thanx John (Eliot Ness) for providing the link explaining the project!

[loungelizard]

It's really heartwarming to read these stories...keep 'em coming and thanks for sharing :) It's amazing how a simple kind word or gesture can have such a powerful impact.

 

caprcorn28 ~ I do know she was cruising with her DH and kids and she definitely was happily married...he's a very lucky guy...wrinkled shirts and all.

[sea_u_onboard]

We never know what's going on in the lives of the people that we cruise with, work with, or who live next door. Small acts of kindness may not mean much to the giver, but little acts could be hugely wonderful to the recipient.

I agree 100%. You never know how one act of kindness on your part can affect someone.

[Luckysll]

On the last cruise my sister-in-law and I did (Carnival Triumph), she went to the Internet Cafe to send an email to her hubby. She was there for awhile and when she was just about ready to leave, she noticed a wallet lying on the table. She opened it up and nearly fell off her chair - she figures there was at least a couple of thousand dollars in it! :eek:

 

She waited around for a few more minutes, figuring the person would be back frantically looking, but nothing. So she took the wallet to the guy in charge of the Internet Cafe, but he wanted nothing to do with it and said to take it to the Purser's office. When she turned it in she left her name and cabin number with the Purser.

 

We figured either the person won at bingo or in the casino (never having done either, I can only presume that's where they got it :) ) and had stopped to send an email to someone. I can't imagine anyone carrying around that amount of money on a regular basis - especially on a ship where you don't use cash.

 

We never did find out who's wallet it was, but the next day, a single rose and a solid chocolate ship arrived in the cabin with a card that just said "thank you".

[redskin80]

I know another fantastic lady that sent me a picture of Deep my favorite waiter. ;)

 

 

OK I am sure that Deep is a common name for some but we also had a great waiter with the same name, can you please share that picture. I want to see if if the same one????

 

cpwise@comcast.net

 

Thanks

[CMU]

DH and I really enjoyed the movie "Pay it Forward." Any chance we get, we do try to pay it forward. The basis for anyone who hasn't seen the movie is --- to help 3 people who couldn't otherwise help themselves and the world will eventually be a better place. After we pay it forward, we always mention to each other that we did pay it forward as a way to feel good about things we've done.

 

So, onto our Victory cruise a couple weeks ago. When we were boarding, there were several weddings that were going to take place prior to sailing and there were several "visitors" allowed on for the ceremony. We boarded and went to the lido deck. We were sitting at the aft bar when we recognized the person next to us as a visitor for the wedding. We started chatting with him while our drinks were being made. Once our drinks were made, he ordered a coke. Well, being a visitor he did not have a sail and sign card nor did he understand what the bartender was asking for. We explained to him what a sail and sign card was and proceeded to purchase his coke for him. Jokingly, we asked to be invited to the reception for an open bar for repayment. So, we payed it forward.

 

Fast forward to the evening. Our group had been in the piano bar and decided to "close the disco." Not normally a dancer, I was forced into the Cha Cha slide. Anyway, upon stomping once or twice I felt something and said "uh oh". Looked down and somebody had dropped there glasses. I picked them up and took them to DH for him to turn into the bartender. Fortunately, they were not broken. When I got back to the dance floor, I then found a sail and sign card right by where the glasses were. So, handed that to DH to turn into the bartender as well. So, someone must've had a good time right before we got there that they lost their sail and sign card and their glasses. Of course, the next day we joked that we should've bought a round of drinks with the sail and sign card as a reward for not going crazy with it. One more pay it forward.

[jack109]

This is not cruise related, but since the topic is RAOK, I thought it would be ok to post here. When we were sightseeing in Washington DC a few years ago, we were at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. As you probably know, there are lots of people looking for names of friends and family members. There is also someone there handing out paper and pencils to rub over the names. Well, there was a guy there (ex-marine) and he said I found my buddy, but I can't reach him. So my husband and our friend lifted this guy up by holding his feet so he could trace over his friends name. It was amazing to see this guy being lifted up, and my husband and his friend obviously straining to hold him up. Everyone stopped, there were tons of people taking pictures, people were crying, and when the man fininshed and they let him down, he was crying and hugged them both. My husband said "sir, it was an honor to be able to lift you up". Then there was cheers and clapping.

Wow!!! I have been to the Vietnam Memorial Wall several times as my husband often works in DC and it is always an awl inspiring experience, yours brought immediate tears to my eyes. Thanks to your husband and his friend for "supporting" this vet.

[jack109]

Even though it didn't happen on a cruise ship I do believe this qualifies. I had gotten my first computer job at Pan Am and one of our benefits was being able to fly anywhere in the system FIRST CLASS and FREE.

 

Four of us decide to go to Rio De Janiero on our first trip, but we almost didn't make it. Let me set the scene real quick. We were all dressed up in skirts and jackets, stockings and dress shoes. ( Employees had to dress this way in order to use our flight benefits). It is pouring out, buckets!

 

We start driving down the Palisades parkway which is not a good road on a nice day and my tire blows out! So here we are 4 girls (22-25yrs old) stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, in the pouring rain.

 

I get out and open the trunk, in seconds I was soaked! In about 2 minutes a car pulls up and a middled age man get out and he too was all dressed up in a beautiful suit. To say the least he was soaked in seconds. He told me to get in the car and he proceeds to change the tire for us.

 

In the car, amazed that anyone would stop in this weather. We quickly pulled money out of our wallets to thank our hero. He finished very quickly and I get out of the car to give him the money.

 

He shook my hand and refused the money. He then asked if I was married. I said no and he said "Well, I am and I want you to tell the man you marry that if he ever sees a woman stuck on the side of the road to stop and help her, because when I saw you I thought about my wife and it could have been her!"

 

I never got his name or anything, but I will never forget him!!!

 

And yes, I did get married to a guy I met at Pan Am (that's a story for another time) He has stopped and helped people along roads several times during our 21 years of marriage.

 

 

Sue

 

A few years ago, my family of four were vacationing about 2 hours away from our house as we often did doing the winter just to get away. We always stayed at this hotel with an indoor pool and many things for the kids to do and was very close to a mall. We had just finished shopping at the mall and were pulling out of the lot when we noticed an oriental woman in the lot with a small child trying to fill the tire with fix a flat. The tire was obviously to damaged for that so my husband ask her if she had another tire. Conversing was not easy as she spoke little english but the job got done. After the tire was changed, the woman ask for our address. We really didn't want to give it to her, but she insisted. We, still to this day, get a Christmas card from her. Okay that was a pat on the back for DH.

[CMU]

"Well, I am and I want you to tell the man you marry that if he ever sees a woman stuck on the side of the road to stop and help her, because when I saw you I thought about my wife and it could have been her!"

 

Sue

 

I know this is off the subject, but for some reason it reminded me of when I was waiting tables during college. My parents came to dinner one night while I was working. I guess as a way for me to get some extra spending money without having to ask for it -- they left it as a tip. Anyway, at that time in his life, my father traveled almost every week monday - friday for work. therefore, he ate at restaurants almost every night. He said after coming to "visit" me at work he could no longer look at a server withhout wondering if I was waiting on some businessman away from home too. Therefore,,after that night he always tipped way better than he normally would (not that he was ever a bad tipper anyway) because the server always reminded him of me. A few months ago (It's been at least 10 yrs since I've waited tables) I went out to eat with my parents. We started talking about when I was waiting tables during college. They both said to this day they always tip well, no matter the service, because they always think of me waiting tables. So-- to all you servers my parents may have tipped well --- You are very welcome (I was just happy for the beer money they left me -- I mean book money in case they read this).

[Ship Addict]

I just wanted to thank Sue L for being the first Flat Stanley we got back! He will be posted to her FS webshots page so everyone can see.

[gfsmith]

A little sugar goes a long way.... What a refreshing change of pace this post is.

[kelz66]

A little sugar goes a long way.... What a refreshing change of pace this post is.

 

You couldn't be more right!!! ;)

[Illinoisgal]

This is not cruise related, but since the topic is RAOK, I thought it would be ok to post here. When we were sightseeing in Washington DC a few years ago, we were at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. As you probably know, there are lots of people looking for names of friends and family members. There is also someone there handing out paper and pencils to rub over the names. Well, there was a guy there (ex-marine) and he said I found my buddy, but I can't reach him. So my husband and our friend lifted this guy up by holding his feet so he could trace over his friends name. It was amazing to see this guy being lifted up, and my husband and his friend obviously straining to hold him up. Everyone stopped, there were tons of people taking pictures, people were crying, and when the man fininshed and they let him down, he was crying and hugged them both. My husband said "sir, it was an honor to be able to lift you up". Then there was cheers and clapping.

That just made me tear up right here at the computer.I can just imagineit, it is such a shame how vets in this country are treated. Kudos to them

[marcia014]

For New Year's 2001, I went on the Carnival Inspiration out of New Orleans by myself. This was the first time that I traveled alone, and was a bit anxious. On the plane, I was seated next to a woman and her young daughter who it turns out were also going to be on the cruise. We started talking and it turns out that it was the woman's parents 50th anniversary, and the entire family was cruising together. This turned out to be about 20 people total. I had requested early dinner seating and was assigned late seating. This did not work well for me, since I typically ate early at home and was STARVING by the time late dinner came around. The maitre'd was not helpful, and said that I had to stay with late dinner seating as there was not one empty seat at the early seating (yes, I did tip him first)! Later that day I ran into the same woman in the elevators and she invited me to come sit with her party at dinner. After quite a bit of convincing, I agreed to come sit with them and everyone was so gracious! I was so grateful for the kindness of the entire party allowing a stranger to join in their family's festivities! It sure made my cruise special!

Marcia

[PACURN]

I LOVED reading these posts. I rarely read the posts of how dreadful peoples trips were. I choose not to be miserable. No matter what happens when I'm on vaction I make the best of it and have a good time. Why be grumpy and ruin my time off.

Life is all about choices. We can choose to be happy and find good in life, or we can choose to be miserable and unhappy. It's up to each individual. I choose to be happy and not to dwell on bad things.

So Thank You to all of those people who choose to make a difference in another persons life.