An anonymous woman’s random act of kindness ahead of Mother’s Day left a senior in tears and with a desire to fully express her gratitude to her benefactor.
After an afternoon of shopping on Wednesday, Pamela Douglas was waiting for a bus to take her home. As a regular bus rider, she was used to waiting a few minutes, but this time she waited in vain, as the bus never arrived. After half an hour, she decided to walk from Sidney to her North Saanich home — a journey that she estimated would take her about two hours.
But as she strode off, a young woman who was also in the bus shelter ran after her.
“She was a bubbly young woman in her mid-20s,” said Douglas, who wouldn’t give her age.
“She said: ‘It’s too far. Stay here; don’t move. A taxi is coming.’ ”
Douglas told the woman she didn’t have enough money for a taxi, but the woman insisted. “I just want you to be safe,” she said.
The young woman was astute, as Douglas later admitted she had taken a tumble into a ditch the last time she missed the bus and tried to walk home.
When the taxi came, the young woman gave some money to the driver to take Douglas home. When the taxi driver recognized the act of kindness behind the fare, he was touched by the gesture — and all three had tears in their eyes.
“The driver was absolutely overwhelmed, as well,” Douglas said.
In bidding farewell, the young woman gave Douglas a hug and said: “Have a very happy Mother’s Day.”
Because everything happened so fast, Douglas never learned her benefactor’s name. She hopes that by going public, the young lady will contact her. Along with thanking her properly, Douglas also hopes to reach out to the woman’s mother.
“I think a lot of mothers would love to hear about their children performing an act of kindness like this.”
