Grandson Ben and I recently took a trip together. Ben is the third grandchild whom I’ve taken on a trip around the time of their 14th birthday. We called it “Ben And Jerry’s Most Excellent Adventure”. Interestingly enough, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream plant in Vermont was one of the few places we planned to visit and found closed for the day. However, that’s another story.

Due to various circumstances far beyond our control, we had to adjust the scope of our trip from time to time. There were folks whom we planned to see, but couldn’t, places we wanted to visit, but couldn’t. All in all, we had quite an interesting and enjoyable time together.

Near the end of our time together, we were driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway. We got off to spend some time in one of my favorite towns, Spruce Pine. Immediately at the exit is the North Carolina Museum of Minerals. We pulled into the parking lot and Ben went back to download Sparky. Sparky is my electric chair which helps me go places and do things I couldn’t normally accomplish because of bad knees.

I felt a bump. Next thing I knew, Ben was telling me that the strap by which Sparky is lifted into and out of the back of Tonka 02, had broken. Fortunately, Sparky only dropped an inch or two. This could have happened after Bruno’s lift arm had swung Sparky out over the parking lot. Then we would have had pieces of Sparky to pick up and haul home after a drop of four feet!

Our original plan was to download Sparky, visit the Museum, then ride less than 100 yards to the Spruce Spine Gem & Gold Mine. Well, Ben climbed in and we went to the Mine. I asked a young man there if he knew anyone in town who could shorten the strap and restitch it. He said that only one person could do the job. He gave us directions to Frye’s Auto Upholstery shop.

We drove to the shop and Ben went in to find someone with whom I could visit. Soon, Phillip Frye came out the door. I explained that our ox was surely in the ditch. In fact, I think our ox’s name was “Shirley”. (g) I told him that he was our only hope to get the strap fixed and not have to end our trip prematurely.

Phillip and his wife immediately set other things aside and assured me that they would help us. They did everything they could to give us hope. Tools appeared, perspiration flowed, and within a short period of time, the strap was fixed and back in place. In the process of fixing the strap, Phillip noticed that the two primary electric wires were very close to shorting out. Everything turned out great and we were about to head on down the road.

When I asked Phillip how much I owed him (fully understanding that it really was far more than I had in my pocket), he said, “I don’t believe I want to charge you anything.” I protested and reminded him (as if he didn’t already know) that he had to pay his bills and insisted on paying him. His response really grabbed me. He said, “I want to send you away from this experience knowing that at least one time, someone who broke down on the road wasn’t taken advantage of.”

I was pretty much dumbfounded. I could tell you more than the usual horror stories about having an emergency develop into a quasi-legal holdup. You may know exactly what I mean. You needed a sparkplug and ended up with a complete engine overhaul. As we prepared to leave, I left a copy of “Grandma’s Songs”, hoping he and his wife would enjoy good ol’ southern gospel music.

Perhaps you’ve seen the bumper sticker that says “Commit Random Acts Of Kindness”. I was the “victim” of one of these acts and couldn’t wait to share the story with you. It’s catchy and contagious. I believe anyone can do this kind of thing. It might just catch on.

Thanks, Phillip, for saving our trip. Thanks, even more, for your kindness.

(Do you have a similar story to share? I’d appreciate hearing from you.)

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