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6 comments

A couple of years ago, I was on a trip to Mexico with my boyfriend. We had rented a car to drive up to a popular lagoon for snorkelling. As we got ready, we were packing up all our valuables in our trunk - all we had with us was the bathing suits we were wearing, our gear and a few snacks. I closed the trunk, not realizing until it was too late that the keys were sitting on the ledge - and got locked in. Luckily, they weren't all the way inside the trunk. We could see them under the lid. Our strategy was to try and press the trunk release button with an unfolded paperclip - but all we managed to achieve was to set off the car's alarm. Yes, we looked rather suspicious.Then a couple walked up to us and offered their help. He pulled the string out from his bathing suit (don't worry, it stayed up just fine) and managed to loop it around the keys and pull them out. Crisis averted. It turned out that not only were they from Canada, they were from Kelowna, not far from where I grew up. And did they ever save the day for us!

Submitted by Name withheld on Sun. 2011-01-09 5:01pm

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Life's Gifts This year I tired of being retired, gave my furniture to my neighbors, bought a ticket to Quito, Ecuador and began a new life adventure that includes learning Spanish and taking the first steps to becoming a travel writer and photographer. For the first three months in Quito I lived with a local family to immerse myself in the language and culture. It was there that my life was given a gift of heart that has few comparisons - the feeling that comes with giving life where there was none and rejoicing every time you see the beneficiary savoring his new time. I was in my room when I heard the maid screaming from the living-room. I ran to investigate and saw her standing over the body of the 88 year old man of the house. There was no movement. His eyes were frozen toward the ceiling. There was no pulse or heartbeat. The family gathered wailing in panic. Reacting as if on instinct and seemingly without emotion, I began giving CPR as I recalled from training 25 years before, modified by what I thought I recalled from articles read in the ensuing years.

In retrospect one could find humor in what followed. It was like trying to crank start an old car. First only effort with no result. Then lips fluttered and sputtered as the spark of life tried to achieve ignition and then died. This happened several times until finally there was a cough, some blood ejected, a backfire, and then life. Breathing started, a pulse, and the body became animated. By the time the ambulance arrived minutes later, he was insisting on getting up, annoyed at the attention and complaining of a sore chest.

Months later and living in an apartment of my own, I visit that family and take the old man newspapers and magazines to feed his thirst to learn. I wonder about this passion of his. Why? Does he feel he needs to get something more before he leaves this world? Is it to go with him?

This gentleman got life but I received something that is possibly the greatest gift that I have ever experienced. I compare it to witnessing the miracle of the birth of one's own child, overwhelming emotion, pride and a sense of spirituality. His gift to me is renewed every week when I stop by with new reading material and see his joy of learning and his sharing his self with his family.

Submitted by Hugh Andrew on Sun. 2011-01-09 5:01pm

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I was travelling solo in the Middle East and had just arrived in Syria. With everyone back home worried about such an adventure I was anxious to send off emails reassuring them that I had arrived safely. I wandered through the ancient streets for a length of time looking for an internet café I had been told was nearby. Lost and tired from the heat of the day I approached a young man who worked in the market to ask for directions.

Upon hearing I needed some type of help he immediately closed down his shop to guide me himself. No refusal on my part would be heard and he walked at least a kilometer through the winding streets, leading me to the café.

Before taking his leave he asked who I was emailing. When I explained I needed to let my family know I was okay he looked at me sympathetically saying, “Yes, you miss your family. I bring my family for you”, and with no more than that he was off.

Returning to the café about twenty minutes later with his sister and two children in tow, he insisted I was joining their family for dinner. Again, no refusal would be heard, and I was guided by his sister and two little boys to their home a few kilometers away. Not prepared for the dinner invitation, I arrived empty handed to a smiling family - who welcomed me with open arms, and happy to share the little food they had with me.

Many hours of good food and conversation later I tried to say my good-byes – but it was no use. The mother was insisting I stay overnight. Trying to convey my appreciation but politely decline became an hour long debate. A final agreement was reached - I could sleep in my hotel if I joined them each night for dinner.

At the end of travels in Syria I was saying good-bye not only to a fascinating country, but to a family I could almost call my own. As it turned out, the only danger my family had to worry about was the fact that I might have decided to stay!

Submitted by Melissa Valks on Thu. 2011-07-21 11:07am

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While on vacation in Montego Bay, Jamaica, my husband and I went to the resorts "High Tea" at 4:00 PM in the afternoon. We wanted to experience all that Sandals had to offer. Shortly after we sat down, another couple entered the tea room and while choosing a table, we invited them to join us. Maureen and Bill are from the UK and while we ate little scones and sandwiches, we drank our coffee. and like true Brits, they indulged in tea. as we became acquainted. The next day they introduced us to a much younger couple that they had met on their flight from England. Viki and Chris travelled to Montego Bay to be married and two days later we watched them exchange wedding vows on the beach. Meeting these two couples was a perk for our vacation. We have exchanged e-mail addresses, gave them our copies of Our Canada and enjoyed each others company . .We have made some new friends and hopefully we will be able to vacation again with them in the future.

Submitted by Carol Bellware on Fri. 2012-04-27 6:04pm

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bookmarked!!, I really like your site!

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue. 2012-05-15 6:05pm

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I want to to thank you for this great read!! I certainly enjoyed every bit of it. I have you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun. 2012-05-13 10:05am

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