Things you've done that really made someone's day

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I had this situation happen recently and took it as an opportunity to really make my friend’s day.

My friend, along with his wife, are taking care of the wife’s mother. The mother has dementia and it is getting worse to the point that she cannot be alone in the house any more. My friend has really stepped up to help out and as a result has been stressing out about it lately. He told me he wasn’t able to come out to a certain magic convention that he always goes to and that he wasn’t happy about that. Also, he told me his 60th birthday was coming up. He went on about how it would be the first time he was ever away from friends on his birthday and that he was not really very happy at this stage in his life. He needed to vent, so I let him vent.

So afterwards, as I was relating this conversation to Mrs. D. we hit upon an idea. Why not send my friend 60 birthday cards for his birthday. We would send them out over the course of the week leading up to a massive amount arriving on his birthday which was Saturday.

So we did. We sent out birthday cards, altered greeting cards, customized postcards, and even a few sympathy cards. Mrs. D and I had a ball getting everything made up and ready to ship out. I sent out the cards on the following schedule:
[ul]
[li]Monday we mailed out one birthday card.[/li][li]Tuesday we mailed out one more birthday card.[/li][li]Wednesday we mailed out 10 birthday cards.[/li][li]Thursday we mailed out 18 birthday cards.[/li][li]Friday we mailed out 30 birthday cards.[/li][/ul]

On Saturday, I called him to wish him happy birthday. He mentioned how he had received a large outpouring of birthday wishes from family and friends, then mentioned how he was going to have to kick my ass. :smiley: Yes, he LOVED it and thought the cards were a scream. They not only made his day, but his whole week. I was just glad that it cheered him up. He needed it.

So tell me what sort of things you have done that really cheered someone up when they really needed it.

2

I bumped your thread.

3

Once upon a time, a good friend of mine mentioned to me that she was having a bad day. As it happened, I was working down the street from a restaurant we both liked where she was enamored with their bread pudding. So I went down to pick some up and then had a messenger deliver the dessert to her office building.

She was very pleased. That was fun.

4

Yesterday morning I gave an 8 year-old girl a dictionary I never used after I bought it in 1998; I learned she loves to read but doesn’t have a dictionary in her bedroom, her family uses their laptop to look things up. I saw her read at an 8th grade level easily. But she says she reads mostly in her bedroom and when she finds a word she doesn’t know she skips it. Being a voracious reader myself I know she’d love to know what all the words mean.

I handed her the dictionary and her little face lit up, her buck teeth covered her bottom lip and I was sure she was going to squeal as she took the dictionary. I bet her folks didn’t see her again till dinner time.

Hooray, one less book to pack! :slight_smile:

5

My last day at work before retirement happened to fall on the day that preliminary pink slips were given out as part of a reduction in force. I had been talking to my boss leading up to that day, and he was really having a tough time dealing with having to tell people they were losing their jobs along with losing me - not that I was anything special in the group, but he and I were of similar age and experience, and he used me as a sounding board, among other things. This shake-up on top of some things going on in his personal live really took a toll on him.

In fact, he kinda sorta avoided me on that last day, because he was afraid of a slobbery scene as I left (as was I.) It was a relief, really, because it was the perfect excuse to sit down and write him an email saying all the things I knew I’d have had trouble saying to him directly. I had the time to organize my thoughts and tell him exactly why he was the best boss I’d ever had. I got a little tear-y writing it, but no one else noticed. And I managed to slip out before he got back to his office.

I heard from him much later that day (he had my personal email address) and along with admitting that he’d deliberately avoided me, he also said he really appreciated what I’d written to him. I think after telling several people that they were losing their jobs, it brightened his day a bit to get a sincere thank-you from me. Now, if only I can find someone to deliver a gorilla-gram to him…

6

How about things that someone else has done to make mine?

I’ve had a miserable week at work. My vacation coverage royally screwed something up and in response the program manager wildly overreacted causing me unending hassle and constant dealings with multiple Sr.VP’s. Friday the program manager sent a completely out of left field request out at 4pm. Shortly after my very detailed response as to why it was unnecessary and not happening I got an email from the manager of one of my resources.

“Thanks, I was just watching and waiting since you always know the right thing to say to take back control. Really appreciate it”

I don’t expect or need a lot of compliments but after 4 solid days of bullshit I really needed that one. It was better than flowers and chocolates although not quite as good a night off to sleep :slight_smile:

7

Recently I had a mid-20s guy come in for an eye exam, as part of a study he was in; he’s getting an experimental treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer, and eye exams are part of the many, many tests the study subjects have to go through. He hadn’t had one since childhood, and had never had his eyes dilated. I explained everything about what it’s like, and warned him that he wouldn’t be able to read well for a while. He got out of the exam quickly, and I was chatting with him at the elevator - and he squinted at his clipboard showing his next appointment. He couldn’t read at all due to the dilation.

I texted my colleague that I was going to escort him, and asked her to handle our next patient; fortunately we just had one more that day so that was fine for her. His next appointment was on the other side of the medical center, a couple buildings away, and in a hard to find area. He thanked me for it, and I chatted with him. He’d come in from out of state to participate in this study, and will be returning monthly, for hope of something that might work.

We finally reached the next appointment, and I explained to the person at the check-in desk that his eyes were dilated and I’d escorted him over. Since we were nearly an hour early, I asked if he could be seen early, or if not, we’d call the nurse in Oncology to see what else he could get done in the meantime so he wouldn’t just be sitting around. She said no, he’d be seen shortly, but he needed to fill out a questionnaire first. She handed over a heavily photocopied form with a lot of gray in the background. He squinted at it.

I asked him if it was all right if I read the questions off to him, and he said it was fine. He couldn’t even see where the options were to write the answers, so I wrote it for him after getting his verbal responses to the questions.

He was ready to go in back at that point, so I told him what his next stop was, that he actually had to return to the building that I was in, told him the name of it, and said to look for signs pointing the way or ask another employee to point him in the right direction, and wished him well. He thanked me yet again. He really sounded grateful. I give directions often, and probably once a week actually escort some random person who stops me in the hall if they’re going somewhere complicated or I worry they will get lost. I think he felt a little more lost than many patients, what with everything he was going through, and being away from home too.

When I got back to the office, I called the Oncology nurse and told her what was up, and she said she’d call his cell phone to make sure he was getting where he needed to be.

8

My parents are celebrating their golden wedding this year and I found out through the Dope that they can get a congratulatory message from the Governor General.

Looking it up, I had to get some documentation so I rang my mother and explained the idea to her. She’s rapt at the idea of surprising my dad with this.

What she doesn’t know is that they’ll also be getting messages from a couple of local politicians that they admire. They’re very low key people and this will amaze and astound them both

So thanks fellow Dopers for making Mum’s day brighter, giving Dad a surprise in the future and giving me a warm glow of satisfaction.

9

This one is silly, but here goes.

I worked in a liquor store. Of course we have to card people that might not be 21. I carded a very young looking woman and she was startled to be asked for ID… She whipped out several forms in a wallet, and told me I’d made her day, as she was 31.

That’s how I learned you can’t insult a customer by asking for ID, because if they are too young to buy they aren’t customers, and if they ARE over 21 they are flattered to be thought younger looking.

10

I was at an antique paper show years ago and an elderly couple (with friends) couldn’t start their car. I diagnosed it as a bad TFIC module and went down the street to a car parts place to get the parts needed. Back on the road in 30 minutes. I think they were happy. I’ve actually rescued a number of people at the side of the road over the years but I’m slipping in my youthful old age.

I’ve helped some friends out in need and it’s come back to me in the form of help from other friends so it’s all good.

11

I got my sweetie a star name at the International Star Registry. yeah, it’s not official and all that, but she was tickled pink by it.

12

This was not a solo effort, but a group conspiracy.

A couple of years ago my mother, who lives in Florida, turned 70. Big deal, it’s just a number, right? So that morning my father went out to get ice, and he took 2 hours to do it. And he returned without the ice! No biggie, that’s my dad. He probably struck up a conversation with strangers and talked their ears off.

Mom had no idea that he went to the airport.

A few hours later my sister called mom and asked her to come over for a birthday dinner. She didn’t want to, complaining that her knee hurt. Sis finally convinced her. She walked into my sister’s house, and there I was, sitting on my sister’s couch, like it was something I did every day. I barely even said hi to her. She was so stunned to see me, she couldn’t move for about a minute.

While she was glad to see me, we told her the sad news that our brother and SIL wouldn’t be able to make it, as the drive was too far and SIL’s father had recently passed away. About 9:00 that night, the doorbell rang. Pizza delivery. We made mom answer the door. Guess who?

Later that week, SIL had to run some errands, so the rest of us got in the car and went to the beach. Dad drove, mom was in the passenger seat, and all the kids were in the back seat. We bickered the whole way. “Mom! Greg’s touching me! Mooooom!”

She loved it. She said it was the best birthday she’d ever had.

13

Occasionally, I go to an auto auction and buy a car or 3.
I put them out in front of my business and sell them to whoever comes along.

Now, we’re not talking Escalades and BMWs here. I get police impound beaters for 25 to 200 bucks, and double my money. I make a buck, someone with limited means gets a ride.

A while back I got a 81 corrolla for 25 bucks. Not exactly a luxury vehicle, but after adding a new battery, it starts, runs well, and had cold, cold A/C. A man stopped by - on foot - and enquired about the car. After talking to him a bit I learned that his wife is leaving him and he needs a job to be able turn things around and see his kid. I sold him the car for $50, taking a wee loss.

A few weeks later he stopped by to thank me. He was able to get to a job, make some money, sign up for some classes, see his daughter, and get groceries home in the rain without getting wet.
Nothing more than any of the rest of us want.

He relayed his thanks and positive outlook with tears and more thanks, and drove away.

A car, just a simple car can be such a powerful tool in our society. I still do this about once a month, and try to find someone who just needs a leg up from where they are to accomplish something, even if that something is just getting by a little better.

14

Just yesterday I was at the Herald Square subway station and saw a fellow take his Metrocard out of his pocket–his driver’s license fell out, and he didn’t notice! I grabbed it, chased him down and gave it back to him–I don’t know about him, but *I *felt great for the rest of the afternoon.

15

At my store we have a customer who I’m guessing had polio or some other childhood disease the crippled her legs. She walks with those crutches that wrap around your wrists. She’s been shopping with us for long enough that the sound of her crutches are a childhood memory for me. Anways over the last year or so I’ve noticed it’s been getting a bit worse, but she’s very independent, so I let her do her thing and just chit chat with her for a few minutes when I see her. When she checks out I’ll carry her stuff to her car or have someone do it for her so she’s not trying to carry everything or wrestle a shopping cart out the (non-automatic) door, down the little hill, across the cracked parking lot and too her car. Though I did mention that when she does, she can feel free to leave the cart in the lot and someone will grab it later.

Anyways, last winter I asked her if she had a cell phone, after looking a bit puzzled she answered yes and asked why I needed to know. I told her that when she shops here on days when it’s icy or snowing I wanted her to call from the parking lot so someone can run out and help her in (or if it’s just one or two things they can just run them out to the car for her). She actually started crying and told me I made her day.

16

Years ago when my then-boyfriend was moving out of his apartment and moving in with me, he put an ad up to sell his washer and dryer. A couple called him and came to see them. They were very interested. He was only asking $50, but while they were out of earshot I suggested we just give the pair to them. It was Christmas Eve, after all…

They were very happy.

17

An old friend was in town yesterday to see her attorney. She is going through a nasty divorce. I Took her out for a nice lunch and a few beers yesterday afternoon. Then we went for a walk so she could vent a bit.

18

Not something we did, but something we helped facilitate. Visiting the grandparents in Florida over spring break. Other siblings live even further away than we do.

Got an email from brother-in-law, saying he might be in town for a night that week, don’t tell the parents in case it doesn’t work out. Got another email the next day saying “yep, I’ll be there tonight about 7”.

So I’d taken the kids out for some fun stuff, and when we got back made a point of saying we were too tired to go out to eat, could Typo Knig take his father and go get takeout and bring it back. Thereby assuring that folks would be home with brother-in-law got there.

The parents were thrilled when the door opened and brother-in-law walked in.

19

Oh - and one we actually did ourselves:

I was dropping off a carload of old clothes at the drive-through donation line at the Salvation Army. The way this works is, you load your stuff in the car (preferably the back), you go up to one fellow who gives you a receipt, then you pull forward and the workers open the back of the car and haul the stuff out. You don’t even need to get out of your car unless you need to direct what to take vs. leave.

It was brutally hot. The fellow who was handing out receipts quipped “didn’t you get the notice? You’re supposed to bring Slurpees along with your donation!”. I apologized and said I’d somehow been omitted from the mailing list ;).

As we left, I spotted a 7-11 across the street. Moon Unit was with me, and helped with dispensing Slurpee after Slurpee until the machines started refusing to dispense any more.

Then we put them in the back of my car, I went back into the donation line, refused a receipt, they opened the back to take out the “donations”, and everyone started cracking up :).

20

Spanish is one of the easiest languages to read; I was one of the four or five best readers in my kindergarten class, and the teacher set us to tutor the worst ones. Back then there wasn’t such a word as “dyslexia”, but nowadays several of those “bad readers” are diagnosed as dyslexic.

There have been a few people to whom I’ve been able to point out in the direction of “get checked for dyslexia” - I’m not qualified to make an official diagnosis, but just knowing that they’re neither wronginnahead nor stupid made their day for several of them. The ones for which I know the results did indeed get diagnosed with it.

Oh, and when I left Miami I took most of my books to the nearest public library, thus causing their SciFi/Fantasy section to explode from “two of the LotR books” to “eight supermarket bags”. Never saw a grown up look as bouncy as that librarian, hauling a couple bags of books in each hand :slight_smile: Made MY day too!