Spring of 1995 was a strangely hot spring, especially for Minnesota. I was 9 months pregnant with my first daughter and needed to drive about 45 minutes from a very rural area to my doctor's office. I drove an older car, which wasn't in the greatest of shape, but it got me from point A to point B -- except on this day. On this particular day, I wasn't 3 miles away from home when the radiator hose blew on the car. With steam and water going every which way, I tried to pull off the side of the road as semi-trucks were whizzing by me.
Only a minute after I stopped on the side of the road, a semi pulled up behind me to see I needed help. I explained to him that I had to make my appointment, and that I was to deliver any day now.
"Well, the car can't be fixed now, but I will take you into town so you can get to your doctor appointment," he replied. He had a load of soybeans that he was transporting to the same town and said that he would make the delivery after he had taken me to the doctor's office.
To my surprise, he walked me into the doctor's office and waited for me in the waiting area. The nurse asked if my husband would like to join us for the exam. I had to laugh because this kind man blushed red and told her that he was only the driver.
After all this, he took me back to my car, went and picked my husband up from work, took him to get the part for the car and then helped to fix it! Though I tried to offer him payment for all he had done for us that day, he wouldn't take a dime. All he said was "that is what people do, they help each other."
I have never forgotten that man or his kindness, and when I see people in the same situation today, I do as he so kindly demonstrated: Help in whatever way I can.
Submitted by Anonymous
We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.
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