altruism in the rain

I woke up this morning (after snoozing for an entire hour), got out the door in a reasonable amount of time (i tend to poke around in the morning reading the paper, drinking coffee, or participating in other such distractions to prolong the pre-work home relaxation time)...and was confronted with yet another rainy morning...a rainy, warm, and all around nasty morning for december. This is annoying (i'll avoid using the word depressing becuase it always makes me think of clinically depressed people, and I never really feel that bad about anything, especially the weather - though inclement weather can definately be disheartening). To top off the rediculous weather, I got to work and took a peak at the 7 Springs website. The mountain is MELTING. that sucks something fierce. No snowy refuge for me. hrm.

Besides that downer, the day started off in a rather interesting way for me (well, after the hour of traffic due to our lovely flooded Pitttsburgh roadways). Upon arrival in the Oakland area, good parking karma kicked in and I happened upon a prime space just as someone was leaving. This is always a good way to start the day. Then, I hadn't even taken the keys from the ignition when a gentleman knocked on my window. This was interesting...who was this man standing at my window in the rain?? I opened the door and he started telling me about his truck breaking down and being towed, and he left his wallet in the truck and he needed to get himself and his tools to a job within the hour. He need $22.50 for a cab ride and only had $14. He told me he'd repay me, mail me the money, etc etc. But, feeling like this man was in a pickle and even though i have about $80 to my name until payday, I reached into my wallet and handed him a $10. Just like that. I hope he wasn't a con man. Either way, I feel good about hopefully helping someone make it to work. I didn't help a poor or homeless person. Life wouldn't have ended if he didn't make it to his job on time...but it just felt like a good thing to do. I told him not to worry about paying me back. I'll probably be poor some day because i give too many random people money. oh well, atleast I'll be happy...and always have good parking spots :o)

It's funny. That's the second time someone has approached me on that exact street corner in Oakland asking for money. Both times I gave it up without even thinking about the how or why of it. altruism is particularly thick in my blood these days.