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Original poster

Strangers you remember fondly

268 replies

Conkernudge · 24/06/2018 14:00

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?

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 25/06/2018 15:48

Oh and eyedrops Grin

FoodGloriousFud · 25/06/2018 16:19

Just love this thread

starkid · 25/06/2018 17:04

I worked in the kids clothes area of a department store as a teenager, and a dad had started getting his daughter to try on suit trousers in the store. He asked me if there was anything else suitable for a wedding, and I pointed him in the direction of some little dresses. He frowned and said his son didn't want to wear a dress, and then said to his son it was ok that he had long hair and it didn't make him a girl, then glared at me.

I'll never forget that dad fiercely defending his son, and it makes me feel very ashamed. I try not to be so judgemental anymore, but I also forgive those who also make presumptions based on appearance.

Original poster
Conkernudge · 25/06/2018 17:08

Thanks so much, this is as lovely as I hoped!

With so much shitty news around at the mo, it’s fab to hear about the best of humanity.

OP posts:
WeeM · 25/06/2018 18:36

Mine is a bit trivial but it has always stuck with me nonetheless...
Myself and BF (now Dh) were staying in a hotel and having dinner. Type of hotel that people visit time and again over a number of years. An older couple a few tables away stopped on their way out and told us that we reminded them of themselves many years ago...I just thought it was lovely that they were still happy and still visiting there and eating in that very same dining room. I always think about them when I visit.

FoodGloriousFud · 25/06/2018 19:19

Bumping for the evening crowd!

Baubletrouble43 · 25/06/2018 19:39

On a long haul flight back from the middle east when I was 18 my friend i was travelling with and I were not sat near each other. Unfortunately I was instead sat next to a vile bloke. He kept making lewd conversation and referring to how I looked more 14 than 18.. Did I want to appear in pornographic films... etc etc. Absolutely horrifying. He tried to touch my leg too which was the last straw. I fled tearfully to the back of the plane to find an airhostess and complain only to find I'd been followed by a lovely gentleman who it transpired had begun to get the gist of what was happening. He was sat across the aisle with his wife and he swapped seats with me. I was so relieved.

TheEmmaDilemma · 25/06/2018 19:57

Some of these have honestly given me the goosebumps and slight welling of eyes. Lovely stories.

I know there is a lovely lady out there who I didn't realise I was helping as much as I was at the time. She's grown now. And awesome. But I didn't really know what an impact I had on her life and how much I helped until a long time later. We're still in contact, and it makes me proud.

lifetothefull · 25/06/2018 20:23

I remember a couple we wet on our honeymoon. At first I didn't really like them, they seemed to have quite a lot of sexism in their relationship and this annoyed me. She always brought him his drinks and served him.(of course we knew better, being newlyweds!). We were on an outing together and gradually we realised that he would also do anything for her and sacrificed a lot for her. They had a relationship where they each put the other one first and they were happy with each other many years into their marriage. It's helped me in my relationship with DH to appreciate him and do things for him to show him.

Dowser · 25/06/2018 20:52

I’m a bit down tonight...and this thread is bringing tears to my eyes.
Some of you had the most lovely encounters with strangers.
I’ve had some lovely midwives especially my last labour which was difficult.

I remember a lovely old couple when I was on holiday with my parents I would be about five or 6 and they were probably about 70 or 80, and it would be 60 years ago

They actually taught me their address
Mr and Mrs Mann
55 first avenue
Bath

They actually did two 5s with their outstretched fingers
One thumb for first avenue

I’ve never forgotten it.

MrsJayy · 25/06/2018 21:16

1 of my Dds middlename is my midwife I had a difficult pregnancy and she was a bloody gem she stayed over her shift and waited till Dd was born and took her up to scbu.

Dowser · 25/06/2018 21:17

Summerscumin
You’ve reminded me when my big burly son was in his works van and a young lad came up chatting to him and his mates.
My lad said to him, you know you really shouldn’t be doing this , not everyone is as nice as us.
Bless

Dowser · 25/06/2018 23:16

Whatsgoingoneh

What a fabulous story. I hope he is forever protected.

FernieB · 25/06/2018 23:20

What a lovely thread.

Shortly after I'd moved abroad, I was driving my 5 year old home from school when the car started sliding in the snow and was stuck. After 30 minutes of receiving abusive gestures and language from other drivers (and the owner of the restaurant I was stranded near) I was beginning to despair when a young mum with a baby in a pushchair and an elderly man stopped and helped me push my car into a safer spot. I never saw either of them again but never forgot their kindness.

Lorddenning1 · 26/06/2018 13:41

@SingularityX love this story :)

Lorddenning1 · 26/06/2018 13:47

Can we vote this thread for Classics please, its such a lovely thread :)

BubblesInTheTub · 26/06/2018 13:58

I was standing alone in a taxi queue after a night out when I realised I'd lost my purse. This was in the days before mobile phones. I lived about ten miles away in a really rural area (no buses and couldn't walk) and my partner at the time was away (no lift). A homeless guy gave me £25 that he'd collected that night to get myself home. I tried to refuse but he insisted.

For about a year I carried an extra £50 in my purse in case I saw him again. But I never did. I think about him a lot and wonder what his story was. I hope he's okay.

Elflocks · 26/06/2018 14:05

Such a lovely thread! Flowers

VauxhallVectra · 26/06/2018 14:13

I was an 18 year old single mother living in a rough high-rise block of flats. I was really isolated and terrified and had no idea what I was doing.

One day a woman that I'd never spoken to, and only seen a couple of times around the estate, knocked on my door with a massive dish of curry and a huge tupperware box full of bhajis and samosas. She said "Eid Mubarak" and in very broken English said "You, good mother. Your daughter make you proud when [she's a] woman".

Then she turned around and disappeared down the stairs.

I had no idea where she lived so I couldn't return the dish to her. I only saw her once again before I moved out and she was with her husband so didn't acknowledge me.

I still have her dish and tupperware box.

OnionBridie · 26/06/2018 14:30

I still have her dish and tupperware box

What a lovely story.

OnionBridie · 26/06/2018 14:31

Can we vote this thread for Classics please, its such a lovely thread smile

I asked MNHQ yesterday but have heard nothing to date.

GameOldBirdz · 26/06/2018 15:00

When I rescued my dog she was underweight, very nervous and not house trained. It took us many draining months of being very calm and patient and constant positive reinforcement to build her up.

On one of her first trips to the park (we didn't take her there at first because there's lots of people and noise), a woman said to my dog "Oh, aren't you a happy confident little girl?"

It made me so happy to know we'd been doing everything right and our little girl was going to be okay Grin

SendYouUpInFlames · 26/06/2018 15:09

When I was 8 my mum and I went on the banana boat. I was a fluent swimmer. But they took us right out and obviously dropped us in the sea.

The guy who drove us out, picked me up, wiped my nose with his fingers and swilled them in the sea (I was very young), then picked me up on his speedboat and took me back to shore.

I Still smile today at that thoughtful gesture, and wish I could thank him again.

Cerseilannisterinthesnow · 26/06/2018 22:38

I haven’t had any kindness from strangers as yet but I like to hope I’m a kind stranger

I always let those with less than me when queuing at the till to go before me

I work in community nursing so to some patients I am a stranger if they are a new admission etc but I always take time to sit with them and have a chat and I like to hear about their stories and lives and I always try my best to help them where I can. It’s a lovely feeling when I hear good feedback via colleagues or, for example, when I got married one patient gave me a card and thanked me so much for always being kind with her. I love my job

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 27/06/2018 15:05

I've just remembered another one. Our son and his wife had the smallest of weddings - the two of them, her mum, my husband and me. After the ceremony we went for a meal in a local pub and had a lovely time.

When we had finished eating and were saying goodbye in the car park a lady called out "Excuse me!" She was smiling and waving at me so I went over to speak to her and she said "I hope you don't mind me interrupting but I wanted to say how lovely you all looked and your happiness in each other's company has made my day!"

Her outspokenness made ours more special as well.