I have a story to share about me, my car, a rainstorm, and a man named Governor Ted. This is a true story.
I was headed toward a community event put on by Starbucks. The event was to gather a large number of Starbucks partners, place them at a community centre in Toronto at the corner of Jane and Finch, with shovels, dirt, plants, wood, and trees. Our mission was to build a community garden.
The weather that day was the worse kind of April day you can imagine. It was rainy, windy and very cold. I wore big boots, a warm coat and a rain slicker and was ready to get dirty. I drove myself to Toronto and was meeting colleagues there. I remember driving right past the building, turning around in a parking lot and just as I was to drive down the two blocks my car slowly died. I was able to veer it off onto the boulevard and out traffic, but then all momentum was gone and I was stuck.
I called my friend who was already at the event and she came quickly. The parking lot I had turned around it was very close. I couldn't leave my car where it was. Together could we push it? Perhaps at another time we could, but at this particular time in history I was three months pregnant. I probably shouldn't be being pushing cars on a busy street in the pouring rain. I sent her back to the event and got back into my car with cell phone in hand ready to make some calls and find a tow truck. Before I could even begin my blind search for a tow truck another car pulled up and man got out and knocked on my window. This was how I met Governor Ted.
Governor Ted (this is how he introduced himself) was a man probably in his late fifties or early sixties. He was very friendly and jovial. It turned out, Governor Ted was a retired mechanic who still had a shop nearby. He proceeded to push my car into the parking lot I mentioned earlier, simply to get it out the way of traffic. I thought this is where his good deed would end, for that alone was so much more than I expected from a stranger, but his generosity of spirit did not end there.
He spent some time looking at my car. (Did I mention it was rainy and cold?) It wasn't too long before he discovered the problem - my fuel pump was broken. He made a phone call to a Honda dealership to get a quote on the part. He had me speak to the gentlemen at Honda to be sure I was getting the right information. The part was expensive. Governor Ted proceeded to call another parts dealer he knew and again got a quote, and again allowed me to speak to the man on the phone to hear the information myself. The second quote was cheaper. At this point I am feeling grateful to Governor Ted but still cautious. I don't know this man. I'm alone in a city I don't live in. Needless to say I had my friends down the road on high alert.
I spent the remainder of the day at the event with my cell phone close by. Late that afternoon Governor Ted called me. He had the part and was able to repair it in the parking lot. I met him at my car and spent the next 30 minutes sitting in the front seat while he works away on the fuel pump in the back seat. (It's located under the back seat) He was very talkative and chatted about his family, his homeland and his religion. During this time Governor Ted explained to me how he follows his heart, not his mind, when making decisions, like his decision to stop and help me.
Once the work was done it was time to pay Governor Ted and give him a great big thank you, but the ATM at the convenience store in the plaza would not release my money! Now I'm feeling a bit panicky. How am I going to give this man his money? I explained my situation to him and can you imagine what he said to me? He simply said to go home to my family and call him. He will give me his address and I can send him a cheque! I was overwhelmed. The doubt I was feeling throughout the day washed away. There was nothing dishonest about this man. He was simply helping a woman in need of help. Luckily I have a dear friend who lives in the city and she drove to this mall with cash in hand so that I, in good conscience , could send Governor Ted on to his day with the money he had paid for the part to fix my car.
It's been a few years since this happened and I still think of Governor Ted from time to time. I recognize I was not in a dire situation. Had Governor Ted not stopped I would have eventually found a tow truck and local mechanic, but it would have cost me a lot more money, time and not to mention headache. What I gained most that day was an experience of generosity and trust. I am grateful for this experience for it has made me think more about people I see in need. Sometimes the small gestures make the greatest impact.
Thank you Governor Ted. I am wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.
