Random strangers you remember fondly

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

Do you have people who you never really spoke to or knew, but they kinda made you smile and you still think about them years later?

Mine was a middle-aged guy I used to see at the gym, dad bod type but took his training VERY seriously. He used to coach himself, out loud, throughout his sessions: "just one more... that's it... YES" or "smashing it today, 2 more reps.....ONE MORE...UH!"

It sounds like it should be annoying but it was actually endearing, his total lack of self consciousness. I called him Encouragement Guy.

Do you have anyone you look back on?

The kind lady in A&E when my small dc had a broken arm. She chatted to me the whole time. She had a teen DC with a broken thumb. We at there for hours getting X-rays and bandaged up alternating with the nurses.

People say the town I live near is rough, but the people are so friendly and kind, she even got Dc a chocolate bar from the vending machine.

Also a lovely lady who I sat next to many years ago on a train. She reminded me of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, I helped her with her luggage off the train and off she went. She was so interesting and chatty.

I was walking back to our hotel with my then 6yo late one day as the shops were shutting, and he was enjoying an ice-cream as we went along. Suddenly the ball of ice-cream fell out of his cone onto the ground. Ds at the time could get a bit overwhelmed by disappointments. He was looking down at the ground in wobbly-mouthed shock and trying to be mature about it. "Oh dear," I said, "We'll get another tomorrow."

A shabbily-dressed, elderly man passing by held out a coin equivalent to about £5 to ds and said "Here, lovey, get yourself another ice-cream."

"That's very kind of you," I replied, "But children have to learn to cope with disappointments."

I'll never forget the old man's reply: "Children don't have to learn to be unhappy."

As we walked away, ds asked me why I had accepted money from somebody who looked so poor. I translated what the man had said, and add, "Because it made him happy to make you happy."

I hope that old man had many grandchildren to love and be loved by.

When my daughter was learning to drive we saw a ‘boy’ every morning in a car with who we assume to be his mum - he had L plates on too, we loved seeing him and how he was progressing. His mum and I shared many a smile on our respective learner journeys. We named him Micra boy (he drove a Micra) after my daughter passed I still saw him each day and then he passed (which was lovely). About a year later I stopped seeing him, I assumed he had a new job, but no he had a new car!! The day I saw him in his new car we were opposite each other at a traffic lit junction - we shared a ‘we’re on the way to work smile’ I still see him occasionally but he’s been renamed Maris boy (his new car was a Yaris)

I was in my early 20s and out shopping with my DM , she had stepped on to the esulator and was on the way down. A little old lady was in front of me and bless her had a complete panic attack at thought of getting on the esulator, I mentioned there was a lift instead, she was happy with that idea so I walked with her to show her where the lift was , we get to lift, the lift arrives she walks in turns round and says you are coming in to arnt you, on ground floor she thanks me and continues with her day. I often think of her x

A St Lucian man of about 85, sharply dressed in a bottle-green suit and matching hat sat across the row from me on a flight when I was travelling alone with my 4mo DS. He immediately held out his arms without saying a single word when he saw me hesitating about going to the toilet with DS and took him for a cuddle so I could go to the loo in peace 🥹 I thanked him and just got a little nod and smile in return. I think of him often!

Older Jamaican lady on holiday watching me French plait my hair to keep it out of my face on the beach offered (insisted!) to do it properly for me. I nearly passed out from the pain of how tightly she did them and the chunky rings she had on every finger digging into my scalp, but she was so lovely to chat to while she was plaiting my hair and it was such a sweet thing for her to do ☺️

This is a lovely thread.

About 20 years ago I was on a long distance bus in Malaysia. Part way into the journey the bus stopped at a shop/cafe for a comfort break. I was back in my seat when the Malaysian lady who was sitting next to me got back on the coach. She sat down and out of her bag got out a can of coke and a cake for herself and the same for me. It was so kind of her.

The other one I can think of is a few years ago my son was really ill in hospital with sepsis. My husband and I were in the parents room, having a few minutes to ourselves. We’d made tea and we sat down with a sigh taking the only chairs in the room. There was another Mum in the room and I apologised to her for taking both chairs to which she replied “it sounds like you need to sit down more than I do”.

We had a brief conversation about our children being in hospital to which she said “WOW, you had a baby 7 weeks ago, you look amazing” and then to my husband “doesn’t she look amazing?” I definitely did not look amazing, but she was so lovely and so genuine at what must have also been a really stressful time for her. I often think of her and wonder how her son is and think she probably had no idea how grateful I was for her kindness at one of the most stressful times of my life.

My old bus driver who used to take me to uni. I saw him one or twice a week probably but when the bus doors opened and I saw it was him I was always so happy. He was the kindest, loveliest man whose very aura just made me feel safe. I was having a really tough time that nobody knew about but his face and laugh just cheered me up so much. Some people are just rays of light.

I am in Berkshire...maybe he has moved east!

First trip out with 4 week old twins, and I was on my own (ex cba).

I went to return something is Hobbs in York, the women at the counter was so lovely and kept telling me how amazing I looked. It meant a lot to me as I had zero support at home, it gave me a huge confidence boost.

Well mine aren't as glamorous or romantic as some I've read but here goes:

Thank you to the guy whose Mum ran a pub in Armacao de Pera in Portugal: I had become ill whilst travelling around Portugal and ended up having to have an extended stay there. Deathly pale - even by my usual hue! I stopped outside the pub sitting on the seats for a few minutes. I think the whole family ran the pub having moved there from London. He commented on my pale skin reminding him of home and that he hadn't seen someone as pale as me in years! I said I was paler than usual because I'd been ill and it was difficult to find plain things to eat. He went inside the pub and his Mum then came outside and asked me to sit inside the pub as she wanted to make me something to eat. A short time later I got a big plate of mashed potato, chicken and vegetables! It was delicious. ❤️

To the pharmacist, who hugged me and said a prayer for my Dad after he had passed away. I was only returning unused medication. ❤️

I was on a transatlantic flight home with a ‘friend’. She called in a favour and got an upgrade leaving me alone. I was a really nervous flyer and we had some Valium but she had it in her bag and so I didn’t get any. After a couple of hours we had the most horrific turbulence. I was silently crying and clutching the arm rests as the plane bucked and plunged, it was terrifying. An older man two seats away saw, and came to sit next to me and held my hand. He talked loads about how often he flew and how safe it was and was just really reassuring. Eventually we landed and he went off to catch a connecting flight. I’ll never forget his kindness (& it spelled the end of my friendship as I didn’t forget being left alone!)

Two immediately spring to mind.

One was a Big Issue seller in Euston station. I was 13, had been on a Big Adventure to stay with my aunt and uncle, and they'd put me on the underground to Euston to catch the train back home (Midlands). Unfortunately there was a problem with my ticket, something to do with evening rush hour restrictions, and they wouldn't let me on the train. The guy on the barrier said I either had to pay to upgrade my ticket, or wait ~2.5 hours for the next off-peak train. I didn't have enough money for the upgrade, and no bank card. This was the mid-90s, so I didn't have a phone either, couldn't let my parents know how late I'd be, and I burst into tears as my carefully planned "independent" trip was falling apart. In the middle of Euston concourse, hundreds of people passing through every minute, the only person who did anything about the sobbing teenager was this Big Issue seller. He took me to the customer services desk to try and sort it out, I can't even remember what the solution was now, but his kindness stuck with me.

Second was when DS2 was a few weeks old, I took him and DS1 (2.5ish) to Waitrose. DS2 was getting a bit ratty as we finished shopping, needed a feed so I went to the cafe. Unfortunately DS1 got very cross because I foolishly undid the straps on his trolley seat, and he wanted to DO IT MYSELF MUMMY. He continued to shout at me while we queued, with DS2 getting louder and louder. Then just as we got to the front of the queue and they were making our drinks, DS1 ran for it, straight towards the doors and the car park. Fortunately I grabbed him and brought him back, by which time we were all crying and the other customers in the queue were no doubt judging this terrible mother. I couldn't even figure out how to get my purse out to pay, let alone our tray to the table as I had a child in each hand/arm, both yelling at me. One of those moments where you think "why on earth did I have two?!"

Then an angel of a woman came and took DS2 from me, went and got us a table and walked him around while I paid and brought our stuff over. She offered to give him a bottle, but he was EBF so she passed him to me and sorted out DS1's snack and drink instead. Then she just said "you're doing great. And some day you'll be able to do the same for someone else."

Quite a few as there are so many lovely people out there. One that stands out is the man who paid for my paracetamol (£1) during lockdown, when I was heavily pregnant and didn't realise it was card only after queuing for 30mins. I was nearly in tears when they refused to serve me because I was buying it for a family member who couldn't get out. I imagine the guy thought it was for me, so I feel guilty in retrospect.
Another is the (extremely drunk) lady who made me take her full name and business address so that she could give me a free haircut, because I found her and walked her back to her hotel during a night out after she lost her friends.
She was incredibly coherent about the haircut, despite not being able to walk in a straight line 😂

someone who I adored was very near to the end of his life. I was out shopping for an outfit to wear to the inevitable funeral. I got the call that he’d died. I Was bereft. Crying, unable to compose myself. A lady walked past and noticed me crying in a closed shop doorway (it was a Sunday). She stopped to ask if I was OK. I was unable to answer her but indicated that she wouldn’t be able to give me any help. She insisted and I continued to sob that I’d be OK. She squeezed my hand and walked away. What a lovely, lovely lady. Kindness when I was filled with grief.

another one was at Ground Zero (NY). I visited and was stunned at the memorial. An American man stood beside me and said something like “it’s unbelievable, isn’t it?” I felt a shared sense of sadness. We smiled at each other and then he walked away.

The woman on her way home from work who saw me manage an underground escalator with a toddler, pushchair and baby in a sling and told me quietly and so genuinely, ‘Well done.’ before carrying on her way.
It made my day, it really did. It made me feel seen at a time I often felt invisible, and I was so grateful for the boost from one woman to another.

The lady who managed to brake very quickly when my toddler daughter ran out in front of her (having been standing at my side on the pavement of a cul-de-sac). She was obviously very shaken and stopped to collect herself, but I didn’t get the chance to thank her properly. I’ve never forgotten that feeling of helplessness and DD was in reins from then on.

I saw a mother with a young toddler in a pushchair and her daughter who was about 8, in a harness with reins, literally like you’d normally see on a much younger child, but with sponge padding to protect her. We were all waiting for a bus and it soon became clear that the daughter was neurodivergent in a way that I don’t have the expertise to say exactly what. The daughter was acting up and the mother was calm with her but clearly self conscious because she kept apologising. As she got on the bus, I saw her raise her eyes skywards, clearly tired and almost at the end of her tether.

On the bus, the daughter was shouting and acting up and saying that she hated her and “I’m losing patience with you”. The mother kept apologising but at the same time put her arms round her daughter and just held her quietly in the most moving demonstration of a mother’s love that I have ever seen. All the while her daughter was shouting at her that she hated her, she held her and loved her.

As I was walking down the bus to get off, I touch the mother’s arm and said “you’re doing a great job” because I wanted her to know that I understood and there was nothing to apologise for. I don’t say this to big myself up, but I often think of that mother, the hopes and dreams she must have had when her daughter was born, contrasted with the exhausting reality of her daughter’s life. It still chokes me up when I remember her.

A very posh English lady I got talking to waiting for a delayed plane from Athens to Gatwick. It was during the time Charles and Diana were splitting up and the Camilla affair had come to light.

She said its not Charles you need to worry about, one day the truth will come out about Andrew...

She hinted at quite a few things....

The man who saw me vomiting while on my way to the park with my toddler son and realised it was morning sickness and very kindly sympathised and told me it would all be worth it. They are both amazing teens now and I have largely forgiven them for making me so ill in pregnancy

I studied Languages at university. Whilst living in France during my year abroad, I unfortunately injured my ankle and had to use crutches for a few weeks. I didn’t have a car, and walked almost everywhere. I remember one particularly rainy day when I was trying to make my way to the bus stop, and the hood on my coat blew down. A tiny old lady tapped me on the arm, put my hood up and secured it in place, all the time talking to me about how important it was that I look after myself.

Also, the lovely train conductor who noticed that I was the only young female (age about 18) in a train carriage full of rowdy, angry and drunk football fans. Their team had just lost a key match. I was travelling alone in a reserved seat and didn’t feel confident enough to move and potentially draw attention to myself, and also felt very vulnerable owing to the behaviour of these people (not saying for a minute that any or all other fans would behave in this way, it was just what I saw at the time). The (male) train conductor spoke to me quietly, and told me that if I wanted to, I could move to First Class at no extra cost. He told me he had a daughter of a similar age, and he wouldn’t want her alone in a carriage where the entire carriage was full of furious people spoiling for a fight. I took him up on the offer, feeling very grateful, and he checked on me a couple of times during the journey. This was more than 20 years ago, and I have never forgotten his kindness.

Last year I went to Seville on my own. Everything went wrong, prepaid accommodation turned out to be a scam and I ended up in a grotty motel in a not great area. I enjoyed myself as much as possible and on the last night thought I’d stay out late. Had a great meal and a few drinks, got to the bus stop and there were hordes of people waiting. They gradually drifted off and through the medium of mime and Google translate, the people next to me explained there were no buses because a late night marathon meant all the roads were closed. They (woman of 84, 50 year old daughter and two teenagers - I got all the details!) insisted on walking me out of the city to where the buses were stopping. They weren’t going as far as me but tried to make me get off at their stop. I explained I’d be OK and waved them off. At the last minute, the eldest jumped back on, hugged and kissed me, then disappeared again. I was so touched.

I met someone on a night out once, he was so nice and easy to talk to. Spoke to him for less than an hour but still remember him a lot

Two former US soldiers I shared a table with on an Amtrak train in 2008. They were women in their 50s and I'm fairly certain they were a couple. We had a lovely chat and talked about train trips (I was on a solo Amtrak adventure). They really seemed to be living their best life.

Same holiday, a man in Savannah. There was a jazz festival and we were listening to buskers and he told me about his life walking around the state picking up work and then moving on. He'd been on the road for a lot of years. It wasn't said as a 'pity me, give me money' story, and he seemed really happy with his life.

Same holiday (it was a trip of a lifetime) my seatmate on the train to Savannah who kept me awake but then at 2am decided to tell me about growing up in Georgia as a black child in the 1930s.

Why are you obsessing over someone you never spoke to. Surely if you had anything about you you’d speak to them and make a new pal. Give up.

I met a girl on a university visit to Aberystwyth.
She was from somewhere down south.
Totally different people.
But we clicked.

No idea what happened to her.