Musical Cars

Recently two of my children, daughter Audrey and son Andrew, took in a performance of the Knoxville (Tennessee) Symphony Orchestra. When the concert had concluded and they were heading for their car, they became confused in the maze of levels that comprise the huge State Street Parking Garage. You know and I know that it’s best to memorize the level you parked on when leaving your automobile in such a place, but somehow it never occurs to “kids” … (yes, when you are 24 and 18 you are still kids) … that they will forget where they parked. Remember those days, when your memory was still a friend who came running whenever you called? Anyway, they had entered the garage at street level and were attempting to find their car when they noticed a very elderly couple huddled together off to the side, presumably in the same predicament.

My son and daughter (I am proud to report) approached the couple and asked if they could be of some help. They learned that the lady’s name was Doris and the man’s name was Dale, and that they had been husband and wife since 1944. “Sixty-seven years,” crowed Dale. “Sixty-two years,” corrected Doris. Not sure it matters. At any rate, when my son asked Dale what kind of car he was driving, Dale responded “A ’92 Buick.” Andrew began scanning the rows of cars for something that fit that general description. Sighting a possibility, he pointed and asked Dale if that was the car he and his wife had driven to the concert. Dale said it wasn’t, but just to be sure, he aimed his remote keyfob at the car and pressed a few buttons. Nothing happened. Andrew began to suspect that perhaps a 1992 model would not have a working remote keyless entry, so he asked Dale for his license plate number. If necessary, Andrew was willing to run up and down the rows of cars until he found Dale and Doris’s ride. After all, it had turned very chilly and Doris had forgotten to bring a proper coat.

Dale could not remember his license plate number but he fished in his wallet and produced a dog-eared card decorated with some spidery writing. Andrew scanned the card quickly with his excellent 18-year-old eyes and saw that the Buick owned by Dale and Doris was actually a 2002 model … but they also owned a 1992 Jimmy. Dale was apparently a mite confused. I know the feeling. Andrew took off to locate the car while Audrey put her arm around Doris’s shivering shoulders. To pass the time she asked Dale if he had served in World War II, and he responded that he had “worked on the Manhattan Project.” Very interested in that response, Audrey pressed for details but none were forthcoming. By that time Andrew had located the couple’s car and was motioning for Audrey and the elderly folks to join him. Audrey guided Doris and Dale to the stairwell and took Dale’s arm as they began to ascend, but he informed her (in a nice way): “I don’t need any help.”

As Audrey and Andrew came to the aid of Doris and Dale, they made a welcome discovery: in helping someone else, they had helped themselves. Their own car was parked only two spaces away from Doris and Dale’s! Much is made of the generation gap, and surely there is some justification for that. But on a cold November night in Knoxville, the young and the old made a connection. And even though neither thought they needed the other’s help, as it turns out, they did. And help was received, and everyone got home safely. Another victory for what some like to call “random acts of kindness” … but even more, as a mother I am happy that my grown children were in tune with their surroundings enough to offer assistance to someone who needed it. Because as sure as springtime returns to the Smokies, the good (and the bad) that we do comes back to us, and I believe the favor will be returned at exactly the right time.

Comments

[Deppfest]

Great children, Jen - a little worried about the old boy still driving, but I will no doubt cling to my licence till my dying breath too!

[Jenny]

That same thought crossed my mind (and lips) when I heard this story ... I yelped, "And he's still driving?" The kids just laughed! Oh to be young again ...