On a Saturday morning this month I was driving on Pleasant Street in Northampton at 5:15 a.m. on my way to the Gothic Street farmers market. I have been pulling a trailer full of equipment and farm produce on this same journey for over 40 years.
But on this Saturday the unthinkable happened as I drove over the construction at the end of Conz Street. My car was jostled when I hit a pothole.
Immediately I heard the drag of my trailer hitch on the ground. I wavered between directing traffic around my disabled vehicle and calling the police to come and help. As it turned out, neither was necessary.
A car pulled near my vehicle and a young man got out. “What is wrong”? He asked. I just looked sad and pointed. My trailer hitch had bounced off of the ball. I tried lifting it but could not. I explained that I was on my way to the farmers market. My trailer was full and I was at a loss.
That young man reached down and lifted the long neck of my trailer about a foot and a half off the ground and got it back on the ball of the hitch on my car. He reattached the chains and found and replaced the connecting pin I had dropped.
He checked the reattached hitch and told me that everything was OK and I could go on my way.
From the moment of big trouble on my way to the market to the time I was again on my way was about five minutes.
A potential disaster was averted. A stranger stopped to see what was wrong and asked if he could help.
And I thought that it was good to be reminded of the kindness all around us. I will be more vigilant for those moments when I too can offer a stranger some help.
Linda Lazarus
Feeding Hills