"Today You, Tomorrow Me"

[filkertom]

I think I might've linked to a version of this post a couple of months ago, but it bears repeating, and remembering: If you ever get down on humanity for being a shitty, uncaring species, this will help. Read the comments, too -- not only will you have many stories of people helping other people, but you'll have what looks like a superb tamale recipe. ;)

Comments

[sveethot.livejournal.com]

Okay, you had me crying before work. Holla at me if you need me to get you some hojas (husks) and masa (dough) mix. I will say - tamales are work.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

There is a saying amongst Latinos, "he's worth tamales." Apparently (didn't read the recipe) making real, honest-to-Goddess tamales is a LOT of work... so if someone is worth tamales, she's worth going to a lot of trouble for.

(And you, my friend, are worth tamales. :)

[bonnie-rocks.livejournal.com]

I have a story of picking up a hitchhiker. I was on vacation with my fiance over the summer near Poughkeepsie, NY We were on our way to go enjoy the day when an elderly woman approached our car at a stop sign. She said she really needed to get to the post office and it was just down the road. The temperature was near 90°F with the sun beating down. She had been walking for a while because where we were there was just a stretch of trees, so we decided to let her in the car.

The post office was about 3 miles away. On the way there, she kept thanking us over and over and said we looked familiar and that she recognized us from the local A&P (we never led on that we were actually vactioning there, and that it would have been impossible to have been us).

I'd like to think that someone picked her up to drive her home.

~*::Meow::*~

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

10 and change years ago, the car died underneath my then 12-yr old sister and I, leaving us at the side of the road, in the rain, no cell phone, no nothing. After about 10min of panicking, this huge, rusty, might-have-been-yellow-once pickup pulls up behind us, and two people get out...late 40s, early fifties, both tattooed to the gills, a very hard looking woman and her companion, a hulking man missing an ear and his right arm. Very scary looking to a 17yr old w/the 12yr old.

Snakeheads mounted onto the dashboard, coiled, rusted chains on the floorboard, right out of some horror movie...yet they were the sweetest people, checking under our hood and, not being able to sort out the problem, gave the two of us a lift home and made sure our parents knew we were back safe. Billy and Maxie...I'll remember those names for the rest of my life. Just goes to show don't judge the book, eh?

I try to overcome the programmed 'fear of strangers' response, but what saddens me too is how even when help is offered, people won't take it. I once offered a woman carrying a baby a lift from her car (in the parking lot), to the gym 50 yards away in a pouring rain. She looked at me, all wide-eyed, and I could hear her thinking 'why do you want to help me? Are you going to hurt me? Do you want my baby?' And she refused and walked on in the rain. Broke my heart.

But this was a nice thread to read...restored a little faith, anyway. :-)

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

That's on my "inspiration" folder in my bookmarks toolbar - I click one of them when I feel depressed about humanity. Here are my others:

A tear-jerker (http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/fcddx/whats_the_best_example_of_awesome_parenting_youve/c1evqhp)

Kolbe, the Saint from Auschwitz (http://www.auschwitz.dk/kolbe.htm)

One person's importance in the world (http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/fbmn1/the_average_person_will_be_just_like_this_post/c1eqpku)

There was also a youtube video of some guy who had given up a successful career to feed people in his home country, but apparently it's been pulled.

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

I can use any bit of good I can find right now. Thanks.

[kyril.livejournal.com]

Was the recipe for Kali's tamales, by golly?

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting -- that was wonderful.