A Random Act of Kindness

Yesterday driving home I decided to "cut through a sub" to get to Golf Rd, the main road I take to home when I get to Skokie. I headed east on the road. The problem is I have a GPS built into the Prius. So I was focusing on the GPS "telling me where to go" and didn't stop at a stop sign!

Wouldn't you know it, a police car was sitting on the cross road. I looked over and here he comes! Drat! I pull over and this "stereotypical (lots and lots of Dunkin donuts eaten, if you get the drift.)" policeman gets out of the car.

"License and auto insurance" he says to me. He is about mid 30's, 5'10 inches, white. So I think "This guy could be my son."

"When did you get your last ticket?" I thought "This is a novel approach, like I would tell him the truth?" So I tell him the truth, "Haven't got a ticket since I moved to IL 12 years ago!" So I guess it works. I go on, "To be honest, I think I was watching my GPS cause I was lost and missed the stop sign." I figure go for all the truth, why not? He replies, "Just like everybody else, cutting through to get to Golf. " I think, "You got me there!" He knows the routine, now I know why he has the stakeout where he was!

"I could give you a $300 ticket for not stopping." I choke, just what I need when I am $10 grand in debt. "You must stop at stop signs. Don't do it again." I figure he thinks, "I can't give this old lady a ticket, it would be like ticketing my own mother." So maybe being 65 has its advantages, when you run stop signs on the way home and the policeman is young enough to be your son!

Which leads me to a story when Jason was learning how to drive. We lived in Blacksburg VA and he was behind the wheel. We were at an intersection on Main and Jason needed to make a left turn. He hesitates, "it is okay Jason, make the turn." Jason looks sheepish and makes the turn. Sure enough we get pulled over by a cop, I swear not much older than Jason!

He gets out comes over, looks at Jason's license and sees he's learning. "You know you can't turn on the orange. It does mean stop." Jason, upset, replies, "My mother told me to turn." I look, "Jason is telling the truth, I did tell him to turn. I thought you could on an orange light. " "No mam you cannot turn!" says the youngest policeman ever.

Then the punch line, he tells Jason, "Always do what your mother says, EXCEPT when you are driving!" Makes me laugh as I type and it happened over 15 years ago. So, I have fond memories of that policeman and hope he is doing well. I will add the one I encountered yesterday and thank God for Random Acts of Kindness.

When I left the police stop yesterday, I burst into tears. My life has been hell and a stranger's kindness reduces me to tears of thankfulness. Blessings.