Strangers you remember fondly

[Conkernudge]

Thought it would be nice to have a thread talking about strangers who have touched your life, or who you remember for a good reason.

Mine:
My DH and I were heading up a long flight of stairs at a train station when suddenly we saw a frail old man overbalance near the top and start falling. My husband dived sideways and managed to catch him before he went head over heels. As the man was falling the lady he was with shouted “Stanley!” crossly. I’m sure she was terrified, rather than cross, but she gave him a bit of a telling off when she caught up with him, despite holding his hand tightly. They were obviously married or partners and he’d given her the shock of her life.

Now whenever I criticise my husband for something minor he goes “Stanley!” as though i’m telling him off for something unreasonable and we laugh.

The fall happened probably about 12 years ago now and it’s just stuck with us. We hope we’ll grow old together like they did.

So, which stranger do you remember and why?

[PiggyPlumPie]

The guy who helped me finish the London marathon. He had already finished and started talking to me on the embankment when I was walking. He talked me through the rest of the course, telling me when to run and when to walk.

He sent me on my way and I did exactly what he told me and finished with a smile.

[Moggie45]

I was heavily pregnant in Tesco once, few weeks to go. I got talking to an old chap at the checkout who was talking fondly about his grandchildren and was buying 12 bottles of champagne for a party. He finished his transaction and turned around and gave me a bottle to wish me well with my baby. I was so touched, he was a lovely old grandfatherly type.

[DramaAlpaca]

The lovely woman who helped me back to my car when I was trying to manage a trolley load of shopping, new born DS2 in his car seat & a tantrumming DS1who'd flung himself on the supermarket floor in a complete rage. She was lovely & I've never forgotten her kindness.

[PlateOfBiscuits]

The woman on the end of the phone on the breakdown service.

I had to get out of the car to wait on the side of the motorway and even though I didn’t feel terrified I started crying.

Her tone immediately changed from professional to caring and she talked me out of the car.

[MrsJayy]

The woman who helped us in a toilet in florida Dd took ill suddenly the woman noticed said "M'am I am a nurse let me help you" Dd had heatstroke so the woman got us water and some salted crackers and sat her down, i have never forgotten how quickly she stepped in.

[PlateOfBiscuits]

Oh and - the lovely woman in the TU aisle who told me I looked lovely as I held a top up to the mirror . I always try to tell people when they’re looking nice - Such a small thing.

[Rachelsholiday]

The older lady who said to me "ooh he's a happy baby because you're a happy mummy you are doing a great job"

It was a really thoughtful and I thought of it when maybe I wasn't happy it got me through some of the tougher parenting moments

[MiddlingMum]

Two occasions:

The first was a couple of young men, all covered in tattoos, piercings, chains, ripped clothing, mohican haircuts etc. Not that I was judging, but it was only them and me and I felt a bit vulnerable. They were sitting at a deserted railway station where I'd just got off with my bike. The way out was over a footbridge and they immediately leapt to their feet and carried my heavily-laden bike for me, then checked I knew which way I was going.

The second was a very old lady (this is relevant before all the ageist comments start) who asked if she could look at my newborn twins in their pram. She stroked them very gently, then told me that her twins had died at birth 60 years ago that week and that she'd never forgotten them. I never saw her again but hope that somehow she had come to terms with her loss.

[lineyturner]

I met a man on a train on the way home from uni. He was my age, but full of advice. I'd been through a recent breakup and he just said the right things at that time.

[Joboy]

My ex went and saw some freind of his I had never met before and met them once after with our babys .
They both have had bad tummy .
Both the men went off the chemist
We used gripe water ,them infacol .
We tried infacol worked a treat used for years afterwards .
They tried gripe water and used for years afterwards.
The babies are grown men now . Wonder he is doing if I remembered his name I would Google.

[student26]

The lovely lady on the train who could see me getting stressed as my eight month old was screaming on a very busy, overcrowded train. She told me not to care what others think because most people had gone through it too. She was really nice and when I feel a bit stressed out with baby in public I just remember what she says. What a lovely thread to start.

[Yezac]

Sat in A&E with DD when she was 6 years old. Middle of the night. I was scared, DD was so unwell, I was lonely, no mobile signal, felt totally isolated. We were waiting for an x-ray. Really busy waiting room, loads of drunks. Loud and intimidating.

A man sat in a wheelchair with a clearly broken leg (his foot was twisted). When his name was called he insisted DD take his place and for him to go back to the bottom of the list so we could go straight though.

I've never forgotten such a huge act of kindness when I felt I was in my darkest hour. He winked at me as I took DD in.

[catandpanda]

The lady who when DD and I were locked out of the house in the pouring rain let me and DD into her house, gave us food and drink, said we could stay overnight if we needed to and also left us her keys whilst she went out shopping and let me phone my husband who had locked us out by accident.

[rainbowlou]

A train driver who walked down the carriage to find my son ( who had fallen over on the platform) and asked him to help him start the train.
I was in a shop buying food not long after I found out my husband had cheated, I had nobody to tell and inside I was in bits, the lady on the till touched my hand and asked if I was sure I was ok, I cried all the way home..she was so gentle and I just needed a hug right then.

[MrsGrindah]

Lovely thread

The man at a petrol pump when nasty EXH was shouting at me and calling me a stupid cow. He just looked at me at gave me an encouraging smile that said “ we both know who’s the stupid one!”

The policeman who took me for a ride on his horse was about 3 . Blame him for my horse obsession!

[Sharpandshineyteeth]

@ rainbowlou that is so sad! Makes me wish I would go with my instincts more and ask if strangers are ok

[Sharpandshineyteeth]

@rainbowlou

[Baubletrouble43]

Ambulance paramedic when I had to rush my dd aged 2 into hospital in a panic. I think I was borderline anxiety attack . I think he was the nicest most wonderful person I ever met! So kind and reassuring and comforting and managed to make my toddler smile.

[Sharpandshineyteeth]

I have breast cancer. Almost better now though.

I was admitted to the cancer ward one night for high temp. I woke up on the morning to hear the other 3 ladies in the ward talking about me. Later on when I sat up properly they were the most lovely kind amazing women. All just curious about me because I was young. I found out they all had incuarable cancer. It makes me so sad to think of them now.

[Sharpandshineyteeth]

Also the midwife who guided me though me 5th Labour. She was very young but she communicated with me through eye contact and small gestures. Before that I had always thought you would have needed to have been through it before and has your own children to truely understand. She changed my mind.

[PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks]

The man who, after witnessing me screaming as DS2, who was then 4, to get off the table from the counter of the Sainsbury's café (he was standing on it), said I was a wonderful mother. He made me cry.

[QforCucumber]

At 16 i was in a car accident with a friend. Not sure if i lost consciousness but ended up with a broken sternum, collar bone and 2 ribs. Anyway a man walking alomg had seen it happen, got us out of the car, sat with us until ambulance/police arrived and literally disappeared. Always wanted to thank him.

[AndersArms]

A sweet lady in a shop who told me I had a lovely manner with my DC, that she was a retired primary school teacher and she always noticed children who were being brought up well.

I often don't have a lovely manner with my DC but I remember that regularly and it makes me feel a bit kinder to myself about that.

[DrDoMore]

I drafted a will for a man who had been diagnosed with cancer. He was in his 50s and his son brought him to the office but he was so ill I had to do the appointment in the drivers seat of the car.

He was so kind and lovely. We chatted for a long time. His son cried as he signed his will.

I often wonder what happened to him.

[PatchworkElmer]

The woman who gave me a tissue when I was crying in the lift in hospital. I’d got HG, I was utterly miserable, and I will never forget her kindness.