One rainy and foggy day, she was driving home when she noticed an elderly lady on the side of the road who was clearly having trouble walking. She was in pain and carrying a heavy shopping bag filled to the top. Erika saw her distress from a distance and turned the car around as soon as she could and drove to her. She asked if she could offer her a lift as it was still raining. The lady was a little surprised, as it is rare nowadays for anyone, especially a young person, to offer you a lift. Not many people even say hello these days. Nevertheless, she soon had a smile on her face and went to her car. Erika put her shopping bag in the boot and helped the lady to slowly get into the passenger seat.
"That is so very kind of you. Not many people even notice us older people," said the lady.
She told me where she was at home and where to take her - it was quite a long journey. They chatted during the ride, which made the lady even happier, as she is otherwise quite lonely. "You can drop me off a little earlier so you can turn around easier and you won't have a long journey because of me," the lady said, but Erika led her right to the front door of her house.
The lady wanted to thank her in every possible way. She could not comprehend that a stranger had brought her home. She was immensely grateful: "You have brightened my day so much. I can't wait to lie down a little, because I'm already quite tired. What if I had to walk back."
Erika just smiled kindly, handed her the shopping bag and said goodbye. She was also happy to have done a good deed and brightened someone's day.
I think we all, especially young people, are not sufficiently aware that it's not all about screens. Sometimes we just need to observe the surroundings of the place we are walking or driving through. That is the only way to spot a person who is obviously in trouble, in pain or in need of help of one kind or another. Even if he or she refuses, it can feel good to think that you were willing to help someone you don't even know.
May there be as many people in this world as possible like Erika, who says: "How interesting that sometimes a handshake is all that is needed to help frightened people; we don't even need many words. And how much it means to them. Surely everyone is able to offer that."
Nuša Želko, 26. 3. 2025
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