Contagious Kindness By Mike Freeman

 Contagious Kindness

By Mike Freeman

My wife, DeeAnn was traveling to Colorado to share a vacation with our son Zachary, his wife Linley and our two grandchildren Finn and Cal. The flight had a stopover in Las Vegas where she moved to another seat. Unfortunately, she didn't realize she left her wallet in the original seat until she had arrived in Colorado.

DeeAnn went back to her original seat, feverishly looking for her wallet. It wasn't to be found anywhere. A fellow passenger who was sitting in front of DeeAnn asked her what she was looking for. DeeAnn described her wallet and the passenger said she thought the flight attendant discovered the wallet during the Las Vegas stopover and turned it over to the pilot of the aircraft. The pilot then turned the wallet over to Las Vegas airport personnel, assuming that the wallet had been left behind by a passenger who deplaned in Las Vegas.

DeeAnn was distraught. She was in Colorado with no credit cards or cash and she had to meet our son and his family soon to start their vacation.

DeeAnn was able to talk to the pilot of the aircraft. He understood her dilemma and immediately went down to the customer service desk of the airline.  He called back to Las Vegas to see if they had found her wallet, and and asked if they could forward it to her over the next few days.

Then a smile slowly crept across his face as he reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and gave DeeAnn $60 cash.

DeeAnn was taken aback by the pilot's kindness. She couldn't believe that a complete stranger would go out of his way to help her, especially when he had no obligation to do so. She thanked him profusely, feeling a sense of relief wash over her knowing that she now had some money to get by.

She offered to pay the pilot back when she had recovered her wallet.  He refused. DeeAnn told him that she would donate that same amount of money to a charity in his name and in his honor.

Over the next few days, DeeAnn kept in touch with the airline's customer service team, checking on the status of her lost wallet. Finally, on the second day of her vacation, she received a call from the airline informing her that her wallet had been found and would be shipped to her as soon as possible.

DeeAnn was overjoyed. She couldn't wait to be reunited with her wallet and when she finally received it, everything was there including the cash and credit cards. But she also couldn't stop thinking about the pilot who had gone above and beyond to help her during her time of need..

DeeAnn never forgot the pilot's generosity, and she made a point to pay it forward by helping others whenever she could. The pilot's simple act of kindness had a ripple effect that went far beyond the few days DeeAnn spent in Colorado.

It's truly heartwarming to hear stories like this where a complete stranger goes out of his way to help someone in need. The pilot's act of kindness not only helped DeeAnn during her difficult situation but also left a lasting impression on her, inspiring her to pay it forward and help others in need.

Acts of kindness have a powerful ripple effect, spreading positivity and compassion throughout communities. It's a reminder that we all have the ability to make a positive impact on someone's life, even in small ways.

It's also important to note that acts of kindness don't have to be grand gestures. Even simple acts like holding the door open for someone, offering a smile or kind words, or helping someone carry their groceries can make a difference.

DeeAnn's experience is a beautiful reminder that kindness is contagious, and we all have the power to spread it.