A story of a random act of kindness you might enjoy

[WilliamPitt]

Isabelle, a friend of mine, is over here from Paris on a work visa. She is doing cancer research at one of the prominent medical research facilities here in Boston. She has been over here for almost two years, and has not had a chance or the money to go home in all that time.

Over the last couple of weeks, my friends and I have noticed that Isa has been downcast, sad, a little low. I had everyone over last Friday, and at one point we all noticed that she had tears standing in her eyes. Krissy and Hannah pestered her to find out what was wrong, and the answer finally came back. She missed her mom. Christmas, etc.

Krissy came up with the idea: Isabelle's birthday is at the beginning of February, so let's buy her a plane ticket home to see her mom as a present. Paul emailed Isa's mother to find out the best time for Isa to go to Paris, and Krissy got our friends on board to help gather the fee for the plane ticket. Today, I spent some time on the phone with a really nice Air France ticket agent, who was excited to help when she heard what the whole thing was about, and bought the thing. We got Isabelle her ticket home.

Tonight, we gathered at our bar and waited for her to come out. She was delayed because - if you can believe it - someone stole her bike today. She finally came, and we gave her the plane ticket in a nice birthday card with a bouquet of flowers.

In short, she flipped out. Wept, hugged everyone, walked around like she'd been hit on the head with a hammer made of Silly Putty. Wept some more. Smiled and smiled and smiled.

It was great.

[GOPisEvil]

1. That was really nice of y'all.

Really nice. Good on all of ya. :)

[supernova]

2. Awww, that's really sweet, WIll

That's a beautiful thing to let her go home to visit her mother.

[LynzM]

3. That's awesome...

Having lived abroad, albeit not for that long, I can imagine what kind of gift that is. Awesome :bounce:

[Scout1071]

4. That is fun. Feels great to make someone's day....or year!

I once threw a keg party for a friend who moved but desparately wanted to visit. Then we threw another party when she got here. Good times.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. I can only imagine that you have all made her year...already!

That is a great story. And a gift for her mom as well. :hi:

[ornotna]

6. Very nice.

Thanks for sharing that.

[Shine]

7. Sweet story, Will.

Sometimes giving IS better than receiving, right? May your generosity be returned to you, a thousand-fold....
:)

Thanks for sharing.

Shine

[johnnie]

8. Uh huh. I'm gonna have to call Isabelle and check your story out..lol

Kidding.

That was very cool of you all. :thumbsup:

[Auntie Bush]

9. Well that beats the time we paid the toll for the car behind us.

They passed us honking wildly and thumbs up. It was only 50 cents! But hey,that was a lot in those days. But it was fun...so I got a small taste of how you guys felt buying a plane ticket!

[SeattleGirl]

10. What good friends you are!

And what a kind, sweet thing to do for your friend! :thumbsup:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. That was lovely, Will.....

What a perfect present......

It doesn't surprise me one little bit, your being behind this one....

You are a sweetheart..... :loveya: :hug:

[marzipanni]

12. Bon Voyage, Isabelle!

Now should we pass the hat for her return trip...? ;)

[KitchenWitch]

13. A bunch of us did that for someone once.

She lives here in Minnesota and her mom in New York. Her mom became quite ill, so we all pooled our money and bought her a ticket to New York so she could see her mom.

[GalleryGod]

14. Well done,Will!

I'm not surprised at all.
Was this the Butkowski's Crowd:toast: ?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

15. Hey, Will!

I haven't been to see my family in Bermuda...no, check that...my family in Hawaii..for ages. And I'm getting pretty sad about it.

Pretty sad indeed.

Sniffle.

-- Seroiusly, though, that was an awfully nice thing you did. You're a good friend.

[elehhhhna]

16. Sweet! btw, i really, really miss Amsterdam...

[wildhorses]

17. love the story

but, honestly the pic and sig line....kinda made me throw up in my mouth a lil bit

[Rambis]

18. That is a very nice gesture

anybody want to pay for my ticket to Prague in April? JUST KIDDING!

[Bullwinkle925]

19. A tip of the hat and a pat on the back to all of you!!

Good Job!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

20. That's lovely

You brought tears to my eyes.

[KatyaR]

21. You guys are SO awesome!!

What a wonderfully thoughtful thing to do--she'll never forget how kind you were to her.