A few years ago, our Captain was unemployed and we were struggling to make ends meet. We were feeling pretty low.
One of the coldest snaps was whipping through these parts for a few nights - some of the coldest on record. So the family and I visited a thrift store to buy some old blankets to distribute to any unlucky souls we found without a warm bed. Surely that would raise our spirits.
We drove to an overpass of our local highway - I had often seen a few homeless gathering under that bridge. We had hand warmers, blankets, and gloves to hand out.
We took the exit ramp off the highway and stopped at the traffic light. My first mate rolled down the window and called out to the freezing strangers "Would you like a blanket?".
The loud traffic noise was too much and all the strangers could respond was "WHAT??". Just then the light turned green and we drove off to circle around again. After a few minutes, we were again back to the red light. "WOULD YOU LIKE A BLANKET???". One of the homeless gentlemen trotted over with his hand up to his ear as if to say "can't hear you". Our light turned green - we were off again.
After a fourth time of screaming out the window with only a confused response, we finally threw two blankets and warmers out the window and sped off.
We drove around to find two more homeless who refused our blankets. It was getting very late and we were all very hungry. We had one more blanket and the Captain ordered "We will not eat until the last blanket has been given away".
We must have driven for over two hours - until finally, on a sidewalk downtown, we saw a gentleman laying flat on his back. We drove around trying to find a place to park with no luck - finally the Captain ordered his first mate to drive around the block while he jumped ship to give the blanket to the gentleman.
The Captain ran off into the darkness as the steam from a street grate obscured our view. When we drove back around to rendezvous , the Captain ran out of the steamy fog and jumped into our vehicle - his mood having soured.
It seems the homeless gentleman was a passed out drunk. So he threw the blanket over him and left him. I asked "did you tuck it under him so it wouldn't blow off?"
"Yes!" he sarcastically replied, "and I sang him a lullaby!!".
OK - so this night did not leave us feeling warm and fuzzy. And we all drove home hungry and irritable.
But since then, we have shared that story with many friends. And we've laughed harder each time we tell it. And the most important part is: our kids have asked to do it again. Now I'm sure that if they remembered how they felt that night - they certainly would not ask!
But its how we REMEMBER events, that make all the difference. Now it is remembered as one of the funniest nights we have ever had together. And, truth be told, if every thing had gone right that night - the good feeling may have lasted a day or two. But nothing to blog about!
There is something to be said for one bad night - finding the funny parts and sharing the memory of it can make many ordinary nights... awesome!
One of the coldest snaps was whipping through these parts for a few nights - some of the coldest on record. So the family and I visited a thrift store to buy some old blankets to distribute to any unlucky souls we found without a warm bed. Surely that would raise our spirits.
We drove to an overpass of our local highway - I had often seen a few homeless gathering under that bridge. We had hand warmers, blankets, and gloves to hand out.
We took the exit ramp off the highway and stopped at the traffic light. My first mate rolled down the window and called out to the freezing strangers "Would you like a blanket?".
The loud traffic noise was too much and all the strangers could respond was "WHAT??". Just then the light turned green and we drove off to circle around again. After a few minutes, we were again back to the red light. "WOULD YOU LIKE A BLANKET???". One of the homeless gentlemen trotted over with his hand up to his ear as if to say "can't hear you". Our light turned green - we were off again.
After a fourth time of screaming out the window with only a confused response, we finally threw two blankets and warmers out the window and sped off.
We drove around to find two more homeless who refused our blankets. It was getting very late and we were all very hungry. We had one more blanket and the Captain ordered "We will not eat until the last blanket has been given away".
We must have driven for over two hours - until finally, on a sidewalk downtown, we saw a gentleman laying flat on his back. We drove around trying to find a place to park with no luck - finally the Captain ordered his first mate to drive around the block while he jumped ship to give the blanket to the gentleman.
The Captain ran off into the darkness as the steam from a street grate obscured our view. When we drove back around to rendezvous , the Captain ran out of the steamy fog and jumped into our vehicle - his mood having soured.
It seems the homeless gentleman was a passed out drunk. So he threw the blanket over him and left him. I asked "did you tuck it under him so it wouldn't blow off?"
"Yes!" he sarcastically replied, "and I sang him a lullaby!!".
OK - so this night did not leave us feeling warm and fuzzy. And we all drove home hungry and irritable.
But since then, we have shared that story with many friends. And we've laughed harder each time we tell it. And the most important part is: our kids have asked to do it again. Now I'm sure that if they remembered how they felt that night - they certainly would not ask!
But its how we REMEMBER events, that make all the difference. Now it is remembered as one of the funniest nights we have ever had together. And, truth be told, if every thing had gone right that night - the good feeling may have lasted a day or two. But nothing to blog about!
There is something to be said for one bad night - finding the funny parts and sharing the memory of it can make many ordinary nights... awesome!
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