Day #793 – There are good people in the world.

There are good people in the world, and I am gathering up the proof. Here is just one story. This is a photo of the man that took my child’s car to North Carolina. You may remember that on Day #666, I discovered that it had been sideswiped in the night and had to be repaired, repainted and the protective film reapplied.

Here’s the story

About two weeks ago, the car was finally able to travel to its owner. I was to meet the driver of the trailer at a safe point on the highway that runs parallel to our town. I got a call about an hour out to let me know where the driver was and how long it would be until he was close by. (First indication that there are good people in the world.) We then discussed where he would leave the NJ Turnpike, what route he would take, and where it would be safe to pull over and take on the car. Mindful of the size of his trailer, I had to think hard about where he could pull over that would also allow him relatively easy access to get back on the Turnpike. I mean, the guy had GPS and could figure it out. But I know my area and he doesn’t, so I tried to be helpful.

He arrived outside of town around 5:15 pm – rush hour – and pulled over on the shoulder at the south end of town. I drove the car up to him, he got it up on the trailer, and on the side of the highway with traffic whizzing by, he secured the car to the trailer. He had questions. When did my son move to North Carolina? Why did he decide to go there? Was he doing okay? I answered all the questions. I told him I’m worried about my son. I’m worried that he feels strapped for money, and that he’s giving up. I’m concerned that he will let the slow start of his business venture cause him to lose heart.

The good part

This guy, this dude who was strapping my kid’s car to his trailer, who I just met, said this to me: “I know how hard it can be running your own business.” He gestured to the truck. “This is my business. When I started out, people told me that I wouldn’t make it. They said that I should just get a regular job. But I had a dream, you know? I knew what I wanted. It was hard, and there were times when it was tough, but you know what? I believed that I could do it. And I did. He has to not give up.”

I asked him to tell that to my kid when he got there. He promised he would. I signed off on the paperwork, and off he went.

This wasn’t the best part of the story.

The next day, at approximately 5:20 pm, I got a call – from the trailer driver. I wasn’t expecting the call because I certainly wasn’t the customer, and it was completely unnecessary for him to call. I answered the phone and got the report.

“Your son probably already called you, but I just left your son’s car with him and wanted to let you know that he has it now.” (He hadn’t yet.) “I also gave him a pep talk and told him if he ever felt down, or like he wants to give up, he can call me. I gave him my phone number and he gave me his. He might never need it, but he seems like a good kid and I know how hard things are when you’re first starting out. I just wanted you to know that I spoke to him.”

I thanked him profusely, and wished him safe travels. When do complete strangers go out of their way to give other strangers pep talks, let alone call their mothers to tell them all is okay?

There are good people in the world, and this guy is proof.