Yes, I know winter is a long way off but I was feeling bored as of late and decided to repopulate the yard, if just for a free dinner.  I know that sounds shallow but seriously - with my new budget, I'm strapped and can't seem to be able to support my weekend party habits like I used to.  I'm not wild but I am addicted to Starbucks and love cool places to be in the middle of the night. So that being said, I put on my game face just to see if anyone was willing to play. 

My neighbor and friend needed a tow for her beloved Miata (I felt her pain - her car and mine are like sisters) and I had an extra tow on my AAA. Enter the tow truck driver who was friendly, funny, and helpful.  At the end of the ordeal, he called to let us know her car had made it safe and sound to her mechanic's shop and if she needed anything, I could call him.  I told him I would and resounded some the earlier banter about faulty GPS, our similarity in age, and his ability to tell a good story.  He asked if he could save MY number in his phone.  I told him sure and from that day we chatted off and on every other day or so.

Now this past weekend, I was driving past a garage sale and stopped to look. I found the armoire that I'd been looking for since I moved.  It was real oak, lovely and undamaged, and most importantly - cheap.  I bought it the next day and all I had to do was find a a truck and a couple of strong backs to move it to my house.  This conundrum should be in the Guiness Book of World Records as the make or break question to many a friendship.  I went through my entire contact list, starting with the boys in the yard.  Only the new tow truck guy dropped what he was doing to come and help me.  Though, to be fair, the other 98% had valid excuses (i.e. being out of town, having the kids for the weekend, etc.).  My BGF, who recently decided that we were friends again, merely texted me "Sorry. Busy." Now, this man has way less of a life than I do and has more freedom to decide his fate than most men his age.  I took it as a snub and conjured all my abilities to make his life miserable in the days to come.

But back to the story - my sister and I got the armoire out of the back of her SUV and onto the sidewalk.  Tow Truck Guy showed up on cue and with gloves in hand, took over the situation and laid out a 3 person plan to get this heavy piece of furniture up the many flights of stairs to my home.  Just then, a dude comes sauntering down the street and says: "That looks heavy. Need some help?" I thought he was joking or homeless until he mentioned he had a dolly in his truck.  He disappeared. Several minutes later another guy came up to us and said: "That looks heavy. Need some help?"  I was starting to think this was a new episode of "Punk'd" until he hollered at the previous guy who now was headed towards us with a dolly.  In a matter of literal minutes, they had my armoire in my living room. I thanked them like they were gods from the sky, my sister tipped them generously, and the Tow Truck Guy hi-fived them like they'd all planned to help me weeks before and it came off without a hitch.

My point is, I've never had my point of view and attitude changed so fast by people I didn't know.  Previously, I was a little disappointed in people - as I went through my contacts and found out of 250 of my closest friends, not one of them was available to help me without notice.  Only the new guy was willing and happy.  And then strangers ended up helping - without notice.  I decided I was wrong about people (not by BGF - just people) and if my attitude could change that fast, when I helped others that weren't expecting it - it most likely had the same effect. 

That was a good day.