Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Pay It Forward Ripple From The Toll Booth


--by dandeliongirl, posted Aug 26, 2016

On the road with my mom, drove on the Thruway (I-90) for about 1.5 hours to our exit, and at the booth the guy inside questioned why we were so happy?-because  mom and I were just cracking up over something.

Ii paid our toll and then gave him $5.00 and a Smile Card to help pay the car behind us and asked him  to please give them the card.- We drove off and that car stayed at the booth for an extra minute and I'm sure was reading the card,hopefully happy and smiling.

Our light turned green and off we went. Mom said, ''Humph, wow, I'm very impressed." I said ''I know, take a look at this person that you raised'' - it was Awesome!

Part 2 of the story -
Driving back today in a complete downpour, lightning, thunder, sheets of rain, hoping it would get better but it just kept steady or got worse, I told mom that ''I've had enough, I'm going to pull into someone's driveway and we'll wait it out.''

I drove farther and finally saw a driveway and pulled in, a man was in the doorway watching the rain. I grabbed my broken umbrella and ran to his door and hollered ''Hello, is it alright if we wait out the storm in your driveway?'' He was the sweetest man, of course said "Yes, actually you want to wait in the garage?''

Yes!

There was a table, chairs, he offered us a drink, and we sat and visited until it let up enough to drive... we thanked him and thanked him.
When we got in the truck to leave, I said to mom ''And THAT is why we gave that Smile Card at the toll booth today'' (you get what you give, karma, etc..).
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Readers Comments

Tom wrote: Yesterday on the everett turnpike in nh, when i stopped to pay the toll, the attendant told me "the sweet man ahead of you paid for the next car. " this is the 2nd time it's happened to me. My wife also had it happen several years ago on mothers day. Somebody had paid ahead for the next mother. I get a warm feeling whenever this happens, and then pay it forward the next time i go through a toll booth. I get to feel good twice. Receiving and giving. , and in the end, i break even. I came across your story while searching to see just how common this pay it forward phenomenon is.
beachsand wrote: Wonderful story. Just what i needed to read this morning.
RoseMarie wrote: Brilliant now you have converted your mum too. X 💓
splain wrote: You did well
Mish wrote: Congrats on using the first of many I know you will be giving away!!! Well done 👍
Alisamom wrote: What an awesome day of kindness! :)
kiwicat wrote: lovely, its strange how karma works isn't it?
mindyjourney wrote: riding the kindness wave, my friend :)))) Enjoy the give and the receive :))
verityngnosis wrote: Wonderful kindness from both of you.
ptate wrote: Good Job!!! It's so worth the reward right??

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