This month AR members are invited by Dr. Paul McDonald and Kathleen Daniels to take part in a challenge called Acts of Kindness | Sharing Love & Joy This Holiday Season. This is one of my offerings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Immediately upon reading the details of this challenge I thought of my father, and that one night driving home late from work, years ago, on the Schuylkill Expressway Rt 76, where his act of kindness almost got him killed.
My father worked the second shift at a steel fabricating company called Budd Company in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia. The details I remember of the incident are, that it was winter, it was probably close to 12 midnight, and there was not much traffic on Route 76 heading west out of the city. He pulled over to help a person on the shoulder of the expressway, who was having car troubles, not sure if it was a tire change or what.
They were on the Schuylkill Expressway or “sure kill expressway” as it was nicknamed in my teens, because of it’s short entrance and exit ramps, narrow shoulders and high speed drivers. My dad parked behind the disabled car on the shoulder and got out of the car to help, when all of a sudden another car plowed into the back of my father’s car, fortunately sparing my father and the other driver’s lives from physical harm. I don’t recall what happened to the driver who caused the accident.
My dad’s car was totaled. If I recall correctly, his car was a green station wagon, probably a Ford or Chevy. I remember it had a roll down window on the back door. The turn handle for that window was a collapsible crank in the center of the pull down door.
I’m very grateful my father was not hurt or killed.
Thinking about this, was a nice reminder of my dad's willingness to help others when ever he was able, he did not hesitate, no matter the potential costs. This story for me has always been a lesson in showing true compassion for others in their time of need (thanks dad).
Comments(12)