Recently my jet-setting mom returned from Hawai'i with a story that could only be hers...
She and her friend stopped to fill up their rental car. Mom 'locked in' the pump and sat to wait in the car with her friend. "Hmm," comments her friend, "It looks like it's raining ouside." Mom looks out her window, pauses and then screams, "Norma, get out of the car RIGHT NOW!" Mom then launches herself out of the car, through the gasoline shooting from pump and ran straight into the gas station yelling, "Someone HELP ME!" (This is SO my mother....the stories I could tell!)
It takes a moment for the startled people in the station to understand what she needs and in the meantime a homeless man on his bicyle stops and shuts off the gas.
A customer then went with Mom to the pump and brought out some kitty litter to put over the spilt gasoline. He told Mom & Norma to wait for the fumes to go down before they started the car. Time passes and as they decide it's time to go, the customer returns, tells them it's too dangerous to start the car and he nervously does it, backing it out of harm's way.
What started as a hilarious adventure at the gas pump (and eventually ended with a $70 bill) became a perfect example of 'True Blue Friends' in this world. The man on the bicycle didn't have to stop, nor did the customer need to spend the time helping Mother and risking his own safety. They wouldn't take compensation, but merely accepted profuse thanks and went about their day.
When I started www.truebluefriend.com I had in mind my 'true' friends, those who support me and are the people I can confide in and laugh with. But there are other types of valuable friends out there - the ones that are often anonymous, but no less equal in regard. Here's to them, and to you.
Best,
Nicole
