Scene – Nordstrom’s, Pentagon City Mall, Arlington, Virginia
Time and date- 1230PM, 26 December, 2005 – the second busiest shopping day of the year
Players – Your humble scribe, his number one son, a men’s department clerk
Clerk: How can I help you?
YHS: We’re looking for a suit for my son, black or charcoal, size 40 regular. It’s something of an emergency. When might we get it altered?
Clerk: Normal alterations are due back on the 4th of January. Would you be needing it sooner?
YHS: My sister died on Christmas Eve. Her memorial service is tomorrow. He has nothing else to wear. I…
Clerk: We can have it for you by 3:00 PM this afternoon. Will that do?
YHS, SNO: Yes, thank you. Thank you very much.
I will never see him again. I will always be thankful. His name was Otis and for what it’s worth? I doubt we share the same politics.
Sometimes it is useful to remember who our friends really are, and who are our enemies. It is so easy to forget, or conflate the two.
My family has similar stories of the kidness of strangers under such circumstances, but here’s the one that immediately came to my mind:
About two weeks after my father died suddenly in his early thirties, (leaving an overwhelmed wife and two young daughters) my mother had reason to be at the mall. Walking down the main concourse, she was hit with another crashing wave of grief. She found herself physically overcome, crumbling into the wall and sobbing quietly.
A stranger walked up and asked if she could help her. It turned out she was a Christian. She hugged and prayed with my mother, comforting her enough that she could pull herself together and continue with her errands. My mother always felt that woman was a gift from God.
Strangers can sometimes turn out to be some of the most thoughtful and helpful people. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
It’s true.
Sometimes strangers become your best friend at just the right moment.
Hugs to ya, Lex.
I hope you know I’ve been thinking about you and your family.
Heaven sent. Sometimes it feels like people are put there for a reason. Otis at Nordstroms.
I am sorry to hear of your loss, Lex. My prayers are with you and your family.
Yes, the kindness of strangers always seems to come when we need it the most. Makes you wonder about guardian angels being sent at such times. I had a similar experience with the death of a much beloved pet. Someone appeared at my front door claiming to have heard me crying – my house is set WELL back from the street, making it nearly impossible to hear what goes on inside. She never came in the door, just stayed on the porch asking if I was OK. Eventually I said yes. Then I looked up and she was gone – literally. I ran to the door to thank her, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Kindness of strangers indeed…angel or no, Otis was a truly kind soul. Strange – that was my dad’s middle name. Not all that common, is it.
Nordstrom’s has an excellent reputation. It’s people like Otis that earned it and people like Otis that keep it so.
My sympathies CAPT Lex – may I accept the changes in life in the future as gracefully as you have this week.
Cap’n,
It’s never easy to say goodbye to loved ones.
As with all of your “two” readers, you and yours are in my prayers.
A friend of mine described this kind of thing as balancing the books: just when you need it most someone does a good deed for you.
My sympathies to you and your family.
My admiration to Otis.
I’m sorry to hear of your loss Lex, sympathies from Heather and I, I don’t even know what to say that can make things better. This post shows that there are still good people in the world. Stay strong.
“Otis” was the manifestation of prayers.More “miracles” yet to come.God bless Cap’n.
I am so very sorry Lex. I know there’s not much more I can say but that.
We had a similar experience last year at Men’s Wearhouse. My husband was working across the country and had flown in for a short visit home when his mother passed away. His suits were 1000 miles away – we walked in the store at 1pm – the suit was ready at 5pm that same day. Wonderful people.
There are good people everywhere – we just miss them in noise of the bad people and are surprised when they turn up when least expected. My prayers for your family. Take care.
Our most sincere condolences Lex.
Oyster and Kerry
Thanks, all.