This happened quite a long time ago, but has stuck with me. When I was 22 yrs old I worked downtown at a law firm. I was headed home one nite on the freeway when everything came to a standstill because a truck had jackknifed. Of course, that is when my car chose to overheat -- total light show on the dash, started smoking out of the hood, the whole nine yards. Of course, being so young I had no idea what I was going to do, so of course I started crying. (This was in the time before cell phones -- yep, I'm old ). I was petrified because I was in a not so great part of the city and was convinced I was gonna have to somehow walk thru traffic up the embankment and look for help. Then, a car rolled up next to my passenger side and rolled down their window. It was a young woman, my age, and she asked me if she could give me a ride somewhere. I know everyone says don't get in the car of a stranger, but I had this overwhelming feeling that it was OK. I got in the car and thanked her profusely and said if she could just get me to a pay phone I would be greatful. Not only did she help me, but she insisted on driving me all the way to my home, which was WAY out of her way. I kept looking at her thinking "I know you from somewhere...". Turns out I went to high school with her. We didn't hang out, but I always thought she was nice. She was more than nice! She was my angel. I wanted to get her address so I could send her flowers and a formal thank you, but she wouldn't budge. (Again, this was before the www existed, so no googling either.) All she said was "Someday you do something nice for someone & that will be thanks enough for me.".

I have kept that philosophy to this very day. I'm a big fan of "pay it forward".