It seems there’s so much nastiness, rudeness and hate in the world now. It’s everywhere, and it makes me sicker than the thought of drinking warm buttermilk. If not for football and HGTV, I would consider throwing my TV away. And without Candy Crush and calls from my granddaughter, my iPhone could probably go, too. But occasionally you run across someone who gives you hope – someone that gives you the notion that maybe most people are good, and the venom-filled trolls on TV and social media are in the minority. That happened to me not too long ago.
I was walking my dogs last night and stopped to speak to Nell, one of my neighbors. She’s been widowed for some time now. She also has dementia. This makes living alone a challenge. Until recently, a relative was staying with her. But no more. That’s a story for another time.
Nell had locked herself out of her house. Knowing there was no one there to help, I drafted myself into neighborly service. I began by checking doors and asking questions. There was no hidden key and she didn’t remember the correct garage door code. Furthermore, she knew only one phone number, which she thought was her son’s. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. The good news is he lived nearby. The bad news is they had a contentious relationship and weren’t on speaking terms. No matter. When texts and direct phone calls went nowhere, we got in my truck and went house hunting.
The combination of darkness and dementia made finding the house almost impossible. So, I contacted the authorities. The policeman was great. He escorted us to the correct home, and together we rang the doorbell, scaring the heck out of the new homeowners. That’s not a typo. Her son had sold the house and moved to Texas a few months ago. So much for Nell getting a Mother’s Day card.
The only option left was to return to her house and contact a locksmith. I made the call, and in about 15 minutes a van arrived and a friendly man emerged. He listened to our problem, asked a few questions, then went to work. In no time at all we were in the garage. Unfortunately, the door from the basement to the house was locked. No matter. This man is to picking locks what DaVinci is to painting. Almost casually, he twisted a little metal rod in the keyhole and the door knob turned. In the house at last! The dilemma was over – so I thought.
Now all we needed was for Nell to get her credit card and house key. Then I could go home to reheat my supper. Crisis over. Unless the homeowner has dementia. As I should have known, Nell couldn’t find her key or her wallet. All three of us searched the entire house and came up empty. The locksmith had seen enough.
“Don’t worry about it. There’s no charge. I was glad to do this.”
I shook my head and said, “That’s not right. Come on down to my house and I’ll pay you.”
“No. This business has been good to me. And I have a mom with a similar problem. I’m glad to give back to someone. Really. Don’t worry about it.”
“Can I at least pay you for the keys you made?”
“No. Don’t worry about it. Really.”
And with that, the kind locksmith got in his van and left. After I got Nell settled down, I gave her a hug, got in my truck and drove two blocks to my house. Tears welled up in my eyes. In just three short hours I had seen a lot: the ravages of a horrible disease, the cruel indifference of family, the concern of a police officer and the kindness of a stranger toward another human being. I chose to believe the tears I shed were for the kind locksmith.
I’m not sure that the locksmith will remember what happened at Nell’s home five years from now. I don’t think it’s the first (or the last) time he was so kind. It’s just the way he does things. But it is indelibly etched in my mind. In a nasty world, more of us should be like this guy. Kindness is a choice that can make a difference, one person at a time. And I’m happy to say I saw that firsthand.
Joe Hobby is a barbecue-loving comedian from Alabama who wrote for Jay Leno for many years. Find more of Joe’s stories on his blog: www.mylifeasahobby.blogspot.com. Follow him on Facebook at Joe Hobby Comedian-Writer.
