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Had a total meltdown at a bus stop in Portland and a stranger fixed my whole day
I was waiting for the 4 bus on Burnside and it was pouring rain. My phone died, I had no cash for a different route, and I just sat down on the wet curb and started crying like a kid. This older guy with a dog walked up and asked if I was okay. I told him my situation and he just handed me 5 bucks for fare, no hesitation. I tried to pay him back but he said 'just help someone else sometime.' Has anyone else had a random stranger step in right when you were at your lowest?
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blair_martin3d ago
Get a portable charger next time, they're cheap on Amazon and save you from that phone dying situation. Also keep a backup 5er tucked in your phone case for bus fare emergencies.
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Honestly, I gotta push back a little here. @leodavis, I see your point about people being good when it matters, but that one good interaction doesn't mean the system isn't broken. Like, what about the dozens of times nobody helps? I've seen people walk right past someone who's clearly struggling on the bus, headphones in, not even glancing. And that "pay it forward" thing is nice but it's also a way for people to feel good about giving 5 bucks while not actually doing anything about why the bus system is so unfriendly to begin with. One guy's kindness doesn't fix the hole in the safety net.
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