Back in my native Austria, people don’t even bother to lock their front doors. So when I set off in the 1980s to backpack through the US, I was warned about the country’s high crime rate and made to fear this big, scary place.
I had my 21st birthday while I was in Los Angeles, and I’d been out having a few beers. Tired and ready to go home, I jumped on a public bus. The moment I stepped off I realised I’d left my camera on the seat – a disaster, as it was very precious to me.
Luckily the bus had set me down right next to a phone booth, so I found the number for LA public transport, rang them and told them I’d left my camera behind. After putting me on hold for a couple of minutes, the lady on the other end of the line told me to wait at the bus stop and they’d get the camera back to me.
Just a few minutes later, the bus I’d been on did a U-turn, pulled up and the driver handed me my camera. This was totally unexpected – I thought I’d have to go and fetch the camera myself from some far away bus depot, if someone hadn’t already pocketed it.
I profusely thanked the driver, who was a warm, friendly guy. “It’s my birthday today, and this is the best birthday present ever,” I told him. Without missing a beat, the driver got on the microphone and said: “Hey folks, it’s this guy’s birthday today” – and then got everyone on the bus, about 50 people who were probably on their way home from work, to join him in singing me happy birthday.
I was happily beside myself. The memory still puts a smile on my face. My only regret is that I didn’t think to take a photo of that jolly bus driver!
What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
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