I drew back the curtains in my hotel room to reveal the morning sun. My gaze fell to the ground level. I eyed the parking lot for my rental car. It was there, but it was frozen. Frost in November… Hmph!
After breakfast, I went back to my room to brush my teeth, gather my things, and don my coat. Maybe the sun will melt it off by the time I get downstairs.
But when I got downstairs and walked outside of my hotel, I encountered a car that was still frosted-over. I noticed a nearby woman who was warming up her car.
“Do you have an ice scraper I can borrow?” I asked.
“It’s tiny, but you can borrow it,” she said as she retrieved it from her car.
She reappeared with the tiniest ice scraper I’ve ever seen. “It’s small, but it works.”
Small, but mighty. That’s all it needs to be. “Thanks so much,” I said as I accepted it. “The rental car company didn’t give me one.”
“I guess they thought November was too early for cars to freeze over,” she remarked.
“I wish that were the case,” I said as I scraped my side windows and back windshield.
“At least you’re driving a Volvo,” she said.
“THAT,” I said as I moved towards the other side of the car, “was pure luck. I booked a Taurus, but haven’t driven one before. I asked if they had a Camry or an Accord since I’m used to those cars. They didn’t, but they upgraded me to a Volvo instead.”
“Not bad!” she remarked.
“It’s pretty nice,” I said as I moved on towards the front windshield. “Though an ice scraper would’ve been good. Not sure what I’m going to do the rest of the week…”
We made small talk for another minute while I finished scraping the remaining windows.
“Thanks for loaning this to me. I’ll be able to get on my way quicker now.”
“No problem,” the lady replied. “You have a good day.”
“You do the same.”
The lady drove off. I sat in my car as it the rest of the windshield defrosted thinking about the kindness of a stranger. I know this woman had to get to a job too. But she gave up a few minutes of her time so I could be safer in this already-safe car.
Raising Literate Humans 
The kindness of strangers…YES!! I love this post. I just read Linda’s post about what matters and now your post about kindness…what a lovely way to start my day!! Thanks Stacey! Here’s to warmer, frost-free mornings!
What a nice way to start your trip in an upgraded car with an upgraded experience with humanity. You put a smile on my face this morning.
So I was anticipating upgrade in seating in a flight or car rental from your title . . . hmmmm a bit of “Been there, done that!” but I love how your post was about kindness.
I wish there was at least once every day that every person shared out loud (or in writing) something kind and unexpected! What a grass roots change!
Thanks, Stacey!
I just read Linda’s post about what really matters. Kindness matters!
What a lovely way to start your day in a strange place. Kindness always makes an impact. Thanks for sharing this moment,
So good to see you! Glad you’re safe and sound. Glad for the kindness of strangers, Volvos and for small but mighty ice scrapers. Thanks for sharing the little and big things that matter.
What a lovely way to start a day, a kindness and a little conversation too. I’ve used my credit card before, FYI, have been stuck just the way you described, a rental with no scraper. Have a good week, Stacey!
Simple moments and interactions are sometimes the most powerful. Awesome
There are so many good and kind people out there. Too bad they are not the ones to make the headlines.
Stacey, it’s interesting how you and Linda shared the same experience. I like how you chose a very small moment and explored it in depth so I shared your feelings about being stuck. November frost-hard to believe!
What a great start to the day! I am happy you took the time to share the kindness of strangers with us through your writing. It’s all in perspective 😉 -Katie
Love this! Glad you are enjoying your trip! Drive safely and continue to appreciate and celebrate those random acts of kindness! Something tells us that you offer your share of kindness to others as well!
Clare and Tammy
Your post reminds me of my recent airport encounter with the kindness of strangers. And also the woman who gave me wrapping paper last December when I mentioned liking hers in the elevator of our hotel. Kindness matters and it lasts!
Does it make me sound like a scary stalker if I say I love your hair curly? 🙂 So be it!
Did you buy an ice scraper? I remember, years ago, traveling for business and having to scrape my window with my driver’s license – small, but mighty. Thankfully you scraper was scraper shaped.
I didn’t. I got lucky the rest of the trip that I didn’t have a frosty windshield.