Have you ever remembered a Stranger your whole life?

hollydolly

hollydolly

SF VIP
Location
London England
Have you ever met someone on a single occasion , or maybe for a day or 2 and never met again... then remembered them your whole life?

Has someone touched your life for better or worse whom you've only met briefly, that's caused you to never forget them?

Have you got a story to tell?
 

Yes, Several here and some in Europe. Some meant a lot to me and others not so much.

I have photos of a couple that help me remember the occasion.

Others, I'm not going to tell you about.)
 
Yes, one of the most meaningful interactions I have ever had took place by chance in a boutique/boho shop. It felt as though we could run freely through each other's minds. The feeling of closeness/acceptance/understanding has stayed with me. Even the fact we were of different genders did not affect the rapport. On some deep level we KNEW each other. Profound stuff to a depth junkie empath such as myself. Not until Philly did I experience that connection again. Priceless.
 

Yes, in a park at age 14, I was playing truant from school and got chatting to a stranger, we spent the day together, he bought me sandwiches and a hot drink, we took a boat ride on the lake, then he saw me safely on the bus home, I didn’t ever see him again but have never forgotten his kindness

i was a naive, vulnerable girl and in this day of pedophiles, where rape and murder are an every day occurrence my blood runs cold when I think what could have happened.....
 
Yes, after high school I was working in shop downtown and had to commute by subway. On my way home one evening an 11 year old boy sat beside and started talking. He was very intelligent and interesting to talk to, but I sensed he felt very alone in the world. I said. "You don't have many friends do you?" (Not very tactful but I was just a teenager myself.) He admitted he didn't. When I got to my stop, he asked if he could come home with me. He was from an affluent community so I wasn't worried for him in that regard. I told him no, but added that I enjoyed talking to him and hoped to meet him again sometime on our commute. We never did meet again, but I never forgot him.

Other strangers have touched my life too, but the stories are too lengthy to retell here.
 
I was a young airman on a London bound train and got sating to an attractive woman in her mid to late thirties, old enough to be my mother (I was 15.

When the steward announced tea was being served she stood and asked if I was going.

I demurred (for the usual impecunious teenager reasons) and said I would wait for a meal in London.

She murmured, with perfect understanding, and so that only I could hear, "My treat."

Madam, you are probably long gone from this world, bur forgotten you are not.
 
The nurse who held my head up when I was weak from a long labour with my first baby. My doctor was on vacation and there was not one face that I had ever seen before in the room with me all through the birth. I did not even know her name until I saw the birth certificate but I will always be grateful to the gentle ministrations of Nurse Chen.
 
While I was struggling with luggage in Kennedy Airport, a lovely middle-aged woman,obviously a New Yorker from her accent, felt sorry for me and helped me out with my bags. No criminal intentions, no scam, just good-natured assistance. I've always been grateful to her, and appreciated the fact that New Yorkers can be very kind and warm-hearted.
 
I also found New Yorkers kind and warm hearted when Hubby and I were travelling overseas. They were also outgoing and witty. One lovely lady rescued Hubby and I at Istanbul airport when we needed Turkish money for an entry visa and all we had was US dollars. We were not allowed access to a money changer and we were really in a Catch 22 situation. I don't remember her name but I do remember her kindness.
 
Mrs. Brown was my 10th grade English teacher in Maryland, so not exactly a stranger but felt like one until this day. She told the students just to come up one at a time when they were ready to give their oral reports. I had my report ready but I waited until last because I was painfully shy and couldn't move. I avoided eye contact with everyone and hoped no one would notice that I hadn't given mine. There was a lull and I just couldn't get up out of my seat.

She dismissed the class but summoned me over to her desk. She said she was sorry to have to give me an F but then smiled at me and said, "I've noticed you are talented in Art. You would be a wonderful asset to the Yearbook staff's layout department." So I joined and my self esteem climbed.

Turns out, as an adult I had a successful career as a graphic designer in Wash. D.C. and eventually an Art Director. I moved to California and worked in Hollywood as a graphic designer, designed my husbands logo, advertising, and sales catalogue for his business, then started my own silk-screen business, and later freelanced. Now I paint for pleasure.

I never was able to locate her to thank her for focusing on what my assets were and not my failures. In that one short moment she gave me self worth, shaped my career, my life of passion for Art, my financial security, and much joy. She was like an angel that came and went. I'll never forget her.
 
I was in business in Frankfurt am Main in Germany and staying with my brother in law. That morning, I had followed him to his Honda garage as I was due to pick him up later in the day. After my business meetings near the zoo, I drove round the city becoming more confused, as the traffic was horrendous. I stopped in a side road to consult the city map, when a large Jeep came up alongside and asked in perfect English (with a German accent) if I wanted help to find my destination. Ja I shouted and said the garage was near the American forces quarters. He waved to follow, and on arrival waved like mad with blaring horn. Sehr gut !
 
Sunny said:
While I was struggling with luggage in Kennedy Airport, a lovely middle-aged woman,obviously a New Yorker from her accent, felt sorry for me and helped me out with my bags. No criminal intentions, no scam, just good-natured assistance. I've always been grateful to her, and appreciated the fact that New Yorkers can be very kind and warm-hearted.
Click to expand...

I find people are very helpful the world over, I have had help with luggage in South Africa...Hong Kong....Belgium.....France and also London and not once would I have thought that there was criminal intent or a scam just kind helpful people.
 

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