We last spoke with my dad Tone Kušar about good deeds we can do for others or that we have received ourselves. I asked him if any event from the past, reflecting mutual help, remained in his particularly fond memory.
After a brief pause for thought, he began to recount: »In the 1970s, when I was still a student, hitchhiking was very popular among young people. If you wanted to go somewhere, you'd stand by the roadside and stick out your thumb, with a piece of paper in your other hand with your destination written on it. It wasn't long before a friendly driver would stop for you.«
We know that travel sometimes (especially for young people) wasn't as accessible as it is today. Hitchhiking was the only option for many young people at that time to discover new countries, as they could cover long distances for free this way. Today, it rarely happens that someone stops for a hitchhiker, as people have become much more distrustful of strangers.
He said that he had travelled through more than ten European countries by hitchhiking, which allowed him to see many sights. He remembers that the rides with strangers were usually quite pleasant, as the drivers were mostly very friendly and helpful.
In 1974, he embarked on a multi-week journey through Scandinavia. On his way back home, he also stopped in Germany, where he was once again looking for a lift. Before long, a car stopped beside him, and a family of four invited him to join them.
»Although their car was full of holiday luggage, there was still some space left for me, my tent and my backpack,« he recalls the helpfulness of the German family, for whom he later found out was called Walter and lived near Cologne.
»As we were nearly arriving at their home, they asked me where I would sleep. I replied that I would sleep at the campsite or in a small wood near the motorway. To my great surprise, they offered me a place to stay, which I gladly accepted. So we went together to their modest house, which was located right next to the railway tracks. In addition, they offered me dinner, and we chatted late into the night,« says Tone.
After breakfast, they said their goodbyes. As friendships had formed between them by this time, they exchanged addresses, and Tone then continued his journey towards Slovenia. He got along particularly well with Silvia and Karl Heinz from this family, who were around his age. For many years after this event, they corresponded regularly and maintained contact in this way.
This story is proof of how long we can carry in fond memory the people who helped us in crucial moments, lent us a hand, and showed us genuine kindness and hospitality. Many people might feel uneasy at the thought of letting a stranger into their car or home, but the gratitude such a person shows us can really brighten our day. What's more, friendships can blossom in these crucial moments, enriching our lives going forward.
Petra Kušar, 25 July 2026
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