In my Monday night writing class, we were assigned a 15-minute timed writing exercise. The topic was “Kindness.” I’ve been wanting to write this story for a long time. This is the time.
I took a seat in the white shuttle bus, heading to my hotel near Disney World.
I don’t remember the year – probably the 90s, and I don’t remember the reason why I was in Orlando – probably an industry trade show. I do remember that I didn’t want to be there. I had flown all night on a red-eye – in coach. I was hot, hungry and cranky.
This damn shuttle was a mistake. I don’t remember why I got onboard this particular vehicle, because it seemed to be stopping at every cheap, cheezy hotel in Orlando: EconoLodge, Red Roof Inn and the Super8. I had flashbacks of the time I traveled for 12 straight hours with three girls from Western Michigan University to a motel in Kissimmee with dirty shag carpet, horrible bedspreads and the largest cockroach I had ever seen in my life.
“AAAAUUGGHHH!” I wanted to scream. This place was like Las Vegas without the gambling. We passed billboards for Alligator Alley, Big Belly Brewery and FREE! Chocolate Factory Tours. My worst nightmare – mass tourism. Crass. Cheap. Commercialized.
My worst nightmare . . . tacky tourism.
Okay – so I’m probably exaggerating a little bit. This was a long time ago, and you know how negative travel experiences get worse with every telling – right? Except for that cockroach. That was no exaggeration. I’ve never seen a larger insect.
Finally, there were only three other people on the bus as we got closer to my luxury lodgings. I glanced at my watch expectantly. Just one more stop before I get to my hotel. A young Asian woman sat next to me. Her husband held their young son on his lap across the aisle.
Unlike so many of my travels, this time I was not the foreigner.
The mom seemed anxious. She looked to me, apologizing for her poor English, “How much tip to driver?”
“A couple of dollars is enough,” I said.
I could see her struggling to understand. “Two dollars,” I repeated, holding up two fingers of my right hand.
She smiled nervously and nodded, at the same time shooting her husband a look of apprehension. She pulled out a wallet from her purse and said, “I have only Chinese money.”
Touching her sleeve, I assured her, “It’s okay. It’s not necessary to give a tip.”
I could tell she was unconvinced. I extracted a couple of dollar bills from my purse and pressed them into her hand.
She looked at me with big, dark almond eyes which were welling up with tears.
As the driver stopped up at the entrance to the Comfort Inn, sprung open the side door and went to the back to retrieve their luggage. Her husband climbed out with their boy. She hesitated, fumbling around in her purse. She pulled out a blue tassled key fob.
With both hands, she handed it to me reverently and said, “Thank you. This means good luck in Chinese.”
I still have it attached to my keys. I honestly don’t notice it much anymore, especially now that I have electronic ignition on my new car. It’s become ratty with age. Part of the tassel fell off years ago.
But whenever I do notice it, I think of her. And I think of those small acts of kindness and generosity that we all experience when we travel. I think of how it feels to be a stranger in a strange land, and I think of all the people who have helped me on my journey – in big and little ways.
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15 Comments
Melissa Smith November 6, 2015 at 3:19pm
You have a generous heart Marilyn. What a lovely way to be in this world.
Elaine Dale November 6, 2015 at 3:55pm
Great story, Marilyn! Oh, the memories conjured up with one word and 15 minutes of writing!
Here’s one for you:
Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
Lao-Tzu
Continue to spread your good energy globally!!
Jane Halsey November 6, 2015 at 5:30pm
Love this Marilyn. This is the reason we travel on a spiritual level to know that we are all connected and to have the opportunity in moments to experience our shared humanity. At least that is how I choose to see it. Reading this filled my heart. Thank you.
Ellen Borowka November 6, 2015 at 5:34pm
Marilyn, you are just the nicest person (besides my hubbie). Thanks for sharing such a sweet and inspiring story. I will keep this in mind when I’m feeling cranky (which is more times than I’d like to admit). 🙂
Valerie Sipprelle November 6, 2015 at 5:59pm
Beautiful experience, Marilyn. So glad you shared it! 🙂
Tree Williams November 6, 2015 at 6:38pm
Writing from the heart – the good, the bad and the ugly (ugh, cockroaches!) – but in the end, there is always the One-ness. Reading of your encounter reminded me of the numerous times we were faced with the language barrier while traveling, and we were always bailed out by some wonderfully caring soul. That woman was lucky to have chosen your seat to share!
Ron Murphy November 7, 2015 at 9:10am
Nice story, sis! (I especially liked how you managed to work in a reference to your hot new sports car and its electronic ignition!! Ya-hoo!)
I have kept only a few choice souvenirs from the good old days of annual jaunts around the world. I like that they have meaning to me. Hope yours survives until your next cool new sports car!
Ron Murphy November 7, 2015 at 9:41am
Your story helped me remember an act of kindness that, coincidentally, I received in China back in ’94 or ’95 (WAY before electronic ignitions hit the market). I took the train from Hong Kong onto the mainland, and had a short window to catch a train far inland. Found a bank to change money. Then wanted some food for the long train ride ahead. There was a bakery in a big dusty shopping arcade, and I picked out a bunch of bread things. I went to pay and realized I had no idea of the Renmenbi (sp?) currency, nor how to decipher what they had written on the slip of paper. I stood there frozen with a huge wad of bills in my hand, not knowing which to pay with. The boss lady came over with a sympathetic look, took a bunch of bills from my hand, carefully picked out a couple, and handed me back the rest, with a gentle, reassuring glance to me. Did she steal from me? Maybe, but I think not. It was the first, and one of the few, trustworthy transactions I had in China, but I remember it so well. (Also, getting a fever on the 30-hour train ride, and the Hong Kong Chinese family who fawned over me the entire way.)
Maurci Martin November 9, 2015 at 6:15am
Great story about how one small gesture from another can really change the recipient’s perspective. Be it a trip around the world, or just a local interaction, small kindnesses can make a big, big impact! Hold on to that gift of Good Luck girl!! 🙂
Kathleen Barry November 9, 2015 at 7:22am
Lovely post … Thank you MM … You are a gem! 💖
Michelle dennis November 9, 2015 at 11:31am
You always amaze (wow!) me with your stories! I often wonder as I am reading them, how this one will top the rest I have read and how you could possibly have another story that you have not shared. I would think I would have run out of ideas by now and yet, you always deliver with another gem of your past! I LOVE reading your posts! Even though I don’t get to see you as much as I would like, this helps me connect with you to a past that I thought I would never know. I remember when you moved away from Saginaw and was so sad because here was another “fun Aunt” who was moving away who always had great ideas and stories to tell us, besides awesome gifts…homemade sewing or tokens from afar. I had only two Aunts and hung on to hope that you wouldn’t go away from the life I only knew. An Aunt meant the possibility of cousins growing up and living close by to tell us silly stories of my dad growing up and taking us shopping (because shopping with fun Aunt Marilyn is better than shopping with mom!) Growing up with no cousins quite honestly stunk and my siblings and I craved the attention of our Aunts and Uncles. I remember thinking as time went on after you moved that your memory was frozen in time with me. I knew so much about you before you left and then when you did, I feared you would be the relative who visited and seemed to get older as I grew too but the memories were still locked to that same age of when you left. Childhood thinking. You became the Aunt who moved away and the latest member of the stories I would now tell to my friends at school, “I have this one Aunt in California…”. Now grown up myself, I admire you so much and envy the life you have created for yourself! I love to read of your adventures and next latest travel destination. I often wonder if you have a huge world map that spans a wall with little red pegs marking all of the destinations you have ever traveled to. Then I laugh at that silly idea. That is one my dad would do for sure! Of course there were not enough “little red pegs” for all of the places you have ever been to or at least not enough space to add another red peg to the same country or island! My goodness, Cuba would sink! Haha! Anyway, thank you for filling in the “holes” in my files of Aunt Marilyn. I find I am not still saying “I have this one Aunt in California…” at school as I am now the teacher myself. You certainly have WOW! me and gone after your dreams and then some I am sure! I find myself saying things like “I know someone who leads a life full of adventure and continues to live her dreams! She probably knows and understands this world better than anyone who assumes they have a good reason to know it all. She is amazing, generous, kind, celebrity-like (in my family), and keeps going strong! She is my Aunt Marilyn…sit down, (this will take a while) and look at what she is doing now!” I do have friends and colleagues who will ask from time to time about my Aunt Marilyn. To them she is some lady in California, but to me, she glows! Love you Aunt Marilyn! Keep up your adventures and never lose that spirit that keeps you going! – Michelle
Marilyn November 10, 2015 at 6:11pm
Wow! STOP – you’re making me cry! (No … don’t stop …!)
Thank you so much, Michelle. This comment is a true gift. I’ll re-read it whenever I’m in the dumps (it DOES happen sometimes) and whenever I am uninspired to write another blog or add another few pages to my memoir (for which I am currently in Charleston SC at a publisher’s conference ….).
We hail from a great family and I treasure the memories I’ve made and will continue to make as a Murphy! Big hugs to you!
Mary Jo November 9, 2015 at 11:35am
Great read, Marilyn! The way you live your life, so open to opportunity, brings such joy to so many! Every where you go, you always make a difference. Wishing you blessings as wander!! Thanks for sharing!
Hugs and misses,
Mary Jo
Angel O'Hanlon Tinnirello November 9, 2015 at 12:54pm
I love this story!
Charly Kirby November 10, 2015 at 9:32am
What a lovely story. So glad you still have this good luck charm. Some people do not believe in good luck charms and may have thrown it away. The memory is worth gold too. Bless you Marilyn xxx