Kindness of Strangers

Sitting at a coffeeshop in Eureka right next to Costco while they are patching my tire, full of gratitude for the sequence of events that lead us here.

What a lucky strike to find so much kindness in the moment of dire need 👉🏼 flat tire in the middle of the redwoods, no phone signal, no cities for miles, a Sunday, and no tools or skills to get the spare on.

Not sure how we would have made it out of there if it wasn’t for our camp neighbors’, John and his beautiful family, very generous invitation to help at 6:30 am.

John not only helped but we took the time to TEACH me how to change the tire step by step. Meanwhile, his family showed me a map (cuz no internet signal) and offered ideas for where to get my tire patched in order to be able to make it to Portland tonight. The closest cities were 1 hour South or 3 hours North via the most unstable, winding coastal roads I’ve yet to drive on.

The people at a local gas station spent 30 minutes to try and help me find a local shop in town, texted and called people for me, and sent me off with a napkin map.

The kind man at the local car repair shop took the time to listen to me at 9 am on a Sunday (his day off) and although he couldn’t help me (no right equipment) he suggested that I drive to Eureka (1 hour south) because the 3 hour North drive would be too uncertain, with no signal or cities, so if the spare fails and I’d get stuck, I’m really stuck.

I’m also grateful to the kind man at Eureka @autozone who told me that while they don’t repair tires that I should try #CostcoTireShop in town who should be able to help.

So here we are, a very cranky, tired Milo and I, reflecting on our morning.

The serendipity of events like these never fails to amaze me. When all the odds are against us, somehow a clearing appears through the selfless acts of all the people who flock to help, to listen, to give you their time and offer kindness.

So grateful to end our last day of travels pondering the remarkable inner workings of the universe that allow for such kind of magic to exist. 🙏🏻🤗