the-kindness-of-strangers.docx
TheKindnessofStrangersMikeMclntyreIhydidtheauthordecidetostartonthisjourney?VhatVaStheauthortsplanforthetrip?Ihatdidtheauthorlearnaboutpeopleingeneralduringthetrip?Ihatwastheauthor*sexperienceatth©Vilson9s? HowdidhefeelVbenheconcludedhisjourney?HashefoundtheanswertothequestionhehadinBind? Ihydidtheauthordecidetostartthisjourney? Vhatvastheauthor,splanforthetrip?始Whatdidtheauthorlearnaboutpeopleingeneralduringthetrip? VhatVaStheauthorfsexperienceattheVilson9s? HovdidhefeelvhenbeconcludedhisJourney?HashefoundtheansvertothequestionhehadinBind?1. OnesummerIwasdrivingfrommyhome(ownOfTiihOCCity.Calif,toNewOrleans.Inthemiddle<>(hedesert,Icameuponayoungmanstandingbytheroadside.HehadhisthumboutandheldagasOininhisotherhand.1droverightbyhim.Therewasatimeinthecountrywhenyou*dbeconsideredajerkifyoupassedbysonebod>inneed.Nowyouareafolforhelping.Withgangs,drugaddicts,murderers.11tpisU,thieveslurkingeverywhere,nIdon'twanttogetinvolved*hasbecomeanationalmotto.2. SeveralstateslaterIwasstillthinkingaboutthehitchhiker.IxravinKhimstrandedinthedesertdidnotbothermesomuch.WhatbotheredmewashoweasilyIhadreachedthedecision.Ineverevenliftedmyfootofftheaccelerator.3. Doesanyonestopanymore?Iwondered.IrecalledBlancheDuBois'sfamousline:''IhavealwaysdependedonthekindnessofStningCrCouldanyonerelyonthekindnessofstrangersthesedays?Onewaytotestthiswouldbeforapersontojourneyfromcoasttocoastwithoutanymoney,relyingsolelyontheWOOdwillofhisfellow.Americans.WhatkindofAmericansMouldhefind?Whowouldfeedhim.shelterhim.carryhimdowntheroad?4. Theideaintriguedme.5. TheweekIturned37,1realizedthatIhadnevertakenagambleinmylife.SoIdecidedtotravelfromthePacifictotheAtlanticwithoutapenny.Itwouldbeacashlessjourneythroughthelandofthealmightydollar.Iwouldonlyacceptoffersofrides,foodandaplacetorestmyhead.MyfinaldestinationwouldbeCapeFearinNorthCarolina,asymbolofallthefearsdhavetoconquerduringthetrip.6. IroseearlyonSeptember61994,andheadedfortheGoldenGateBridgewitha50-poundpackonmybackandasigndisplayingnydestinationtopassingvehicles:nAmerka.m7. ForsixweeksIhitched82ridesandcovered4223milesacross14states.sItraveled,folkswerealwayswarningmeaboutsomeplaceelse.InMontanatheytoldmetowatchoutforthecowboysinWyoming.InNebraskatheysaidpeoplewouldnotbeasniceinIo¼a.YctIwastreatedWithkindnesseverywhereIwent.Iwasamazedbypeople'sreadinesstohelpaStranIer.evenwhenitSeVmedtoruncontrarytotheirownbestinterests.8. OnedayinNebraskaacarpulledtotheroadshoulder.WhenIreachedthewindow,IsawtwolittleoldladiesdressedinIhdrSundayfinest.,*Iknowyou'renotsupposedtopickuphitchhikers,butit'ssofarbetweentownsouthere,youfeelbadpassingaperson/,saidthedriver,whoMIrOdUCedherselfasVi.Ididn'tkno½whethertokissthemorscoldthemforstopping,ihiswomanwastellingmeshe,dratherriskherlifethanfecibadaboutPaSSingastrangeronthesideof<heroad.9. OnceuhenIwashitchhikingunsuccessfullyintherain,atruckerpulledover,lockinghisbrakessohardheskiddedonthegrassshoulder.Thedrivertoldmehewasoncerobbedatknifepointbyahitchhiker.oBut1hatetoseeamanstandoutintherain,*'headded.oPeopIedon'thavenoheartanymore.*10. Ifound,however,IhiHpeopleweregenerallycompassionate.HearingIhadnomoneyandwouldtakenone,peopleboughtmefoodorsharedwhatevertheyhappenedtohavewiththem.ThosewhohadtheleasttoJjiVeoftengavethemost.InOregonahousepainternamedMikenotedthechillyv*eitherandaskedifIhadacoat.Whenhelearnedthat1hadMatightOneJhedrovemetohishouse,andhandedmeabgreenarmy-stylejacket.Alumber-millworkernamedTiminvitedmetoasimpledinnerwithhisfamilyInthdrshabbyhouse.Thenheofferedmehktent.Irefused,knowingitwasprobablyoneofthefamily'smostvaluablepossessions.ButTimwasdeterminedthat1haveit,andfinallyIagreedtotakeit.11. 1wasgratefultoallthepvop!c1metfortheirrides,theirfood,theirshelter,undtheirgifts.ButwhatIundmosttouchingwastheactthaltheyalldiditasamatterofcourse.12. OnedayIMAlkedintothechamberofcommerceinJanesto½n,Tenn,tofindoutaboutcampinginthearea.Theexecutivedirector.BaxterWilson.59.handedmeabrochureforalocalcampground.Seeingthatitcost$12.Ireplied,"No,that'sallright.lltrysomethingelse."Thenhesawmybackpack."Mostpeoplearoundherewillletyoupitchatentontheirland,ifthat*swhatyouwant,"hesaid.Nowwe*retalking.1thought.oAnyparticulardirection?*Iasked.hTcIIyouwhat.vcgotabigfarmabouttenmilessouthohere.Ifyu,rchereat5:30,youcanridewithme.”13. Iaccepted,andwedroveouttoamagnifcenlcountryhouse.SuddenlyIrealizedhe'dinvitedmetospendthenightinhihome.Hiswife.Carol,aseventh-gradescienceleather,WaScookinguPotroastMhcnwewalkedintothekitchen.Baxterexplainedthatlocalfolkswere"mountains(ayat-homepeople*1Mhorarelyentertainedintheirhouse."Whenwedo/'beSaid."it'susuallykin.11Thisrevelationmademynightthereallthemorespecial.14. ThenextmorningwhenIcamedownstairs,Carolaskedifdcometotheirschoolandtalktoherclassaboutmytrip.Iugrccdundbeforelonghadbwnscheduledtotalktocvcryclassintheschool.Thekidswereattentiveandkeptaskingallkindsofquestions:WhereWerepeoplethekindest?Howmanypairsofshoesdidyouhave?Didanybodytrytorunyouove