The kindness of strangers

The kids were all playing in the yard today when my oldest came in in tears. Turns out she kicked their favorite ball (a gift from my brother) over the fence into the busy road.

I assessed the situation (which really means I stood in the doorway and watched the thing roll further and further away while cursing to myself and trying to decide if I really wanted to risk my life in busy traffic for a $2 over-sized ball) and decided to go after it.

After risking life and limb to cross the busy road (that might be a wee bit of an over-statement, but hey, I'll go with it), I still couldn't catch the blasted thing. The wind just kept pushing it further and further away.

When what to my wondering eyes did appear but a pickup truck on it's way towards me. A woman pulled over, got out, caught the ball and brought it to me.

She told me it had flown in front of her when it sailed over the fence. She saw the kids in the yard and was afraid they'd run after it, so she came back around to get it for them.

Isn't that awesome? That, right there, made my whole day/week/month/year.

I think I shall invest in one of those quarter high bounce balls to keep in my van to remind me of this.  It will serve as a visual reminder to pass that kindness along whenever I can.