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Paying it forward
Jan. 2nd, 2008 11:41 amChris got me a Mr. Clean carwash system for Christmas, so last weekend we busted it out and washed our cars. I have an old neighbor lady who's garage faces mine and she made a joke about her car being next. She owns two huge cadalliacs from when her husband was alive, but she just kind of goes around town in one and moves the other in the parking spots out front every few days to keep from getting a ticket.
I got to thinking about things and felt bad that I didnt really acknowledge when her husband died. I heard about it from a neighbor and I think I mumbled a "sorry for your loss" once out in the driveway. I don't her very well aside from her name and the names of her family members. They keep to themselves and we are pretty introverted too.
So I asked Chris to load up the soap gun for one more round and walked over to ask her which car she wanted washed. At first she was like, "oh honey I was just kidding, it's too big. In fact I am taking it to someone with my daughter to see if I can sell it because they are both just too big for me. I am going to sell them both, starting with this one. (The one that had been sitting out.) So I convinced her that it would be so much better if the car was nicely washed, especially because we've been having heavy winds and everything is covered in dust and dirt. Finally she was okay with it (although still thinking I was a bit looney) and gave me the keys. I washed it in just a few minutes thanks to the washer system Chris bought and then ran it around the block to dry it and then came back and touched it up with a towel. She was soooo thankful and I kept thinking, "Really it wasnt a big deal."
The next day she came over. She and her daughter were so impressed that I had washed her car that they had gotten me a Starbucks giftcard and a thank you card. I never intended to wash the car to get something in return, but that was such a sweet thing to do. I think I've bonded with the neighbor lady now.
I got to thinking about things and felt bad that I didnt really acknowledge when her husband died. I heard about it from a neighbor and I think I mumbled a "sorry for your loss" once out in the driveway. I don't her very well aside from her name and the names of her family members. They keep to themselves and we are pretty introverted too.
So I asked Chris to load up the soap gun for one more round and walked over to ask her which car she wanted washed. At first she was like, "oh honey I was just kidding, it's too big. In fact I am taking it to someone with my daughter to see if I can sell it because they are both just too big for me. I am going to sell them both, starting with this one. (The one that had been sitting out.) So I convinced her that it would be so much better if the car was nicely washed, especially because we've been having heavy winds and everything is covered in dust and dirt. Finally she was okay with it (although still thinking I was a bit looney) and gave me the keys. I washed it in just a few minutes thanks to the washer system Chris bought and then ran it around the block to dry it and then came back and touched it up with a towel. She was soooo thankful and I kept thinking, "Really it wasnt a big deal."
The next day she came over. She and her daughter were so impressed that I had washed her car that they had gotten me a Starbucks giftcard and a thank you card. I never intended to wash the car to get something in return, but that was such a sweet thing to do. I think I've bonded with the neighbor lady now.
