Hot coffee from a stranger!

I seem to be collecting little stories of the great humanity still left in this world.

There I was, shivering on Alki Beach last Saturday. Why you ask? I was volunteering at a waterstop for the local Team in Training run group who were on their longest run of the season, training for the Nike Women's Marathon and the Victoria Marathon. All of the participants had raised a lot of money towards The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I thought it was a good way to give back to all those that have done waterstops for me, back in the day.

It was really the first day that you could feel fall in the air. It was windy, it was threatening to rain all morning. I was cold, still wearing my summer gear, not wanting to give up the warm days quite yet.

The runners were appreciative as I cheered for them. Now realize, this is early morning Saturday. Usually neighbors do not appreciate cheering on a Saturday morning so I was noticeably nervous when the neighbor from across the street came out with a wife beater shirt on, shit-kicker boots and tattoos. I was thinking, "I am sorry, I will be more quiet, please don't yell at me!" as he approached.

But, much to my surprise (lesson learned, don't judge a book by its cover), he said his wife saw me out there, apparently I looked cold too, and thought I might need a hot coffee or tea to keep me warm! Yes, I said, in relief.

Sure enough, he brought me out a pipping hot cup of coffee, in a rainbow mug nonetheless, complete with a little thing of cream and sugar and a little spoon.

It did in fact warm me up and I was so appreciative of his neighborhliness. It made my day and I told everyone who stopped at my waterstop what had happened.

Yet another example of the good still left in people!

The only problem? I then had to pee! Luckily for me I was across the street from a park with a porto-pottie. Phew!