The Kindness of Strangers

In 1954 when I saw Elia Kazan's movie Streetcar Named Desire, I was scornful of the character Blanche DuBois, who drawled, "I've always depended on the kindness of strangers," as she was being hauled off to the loony bin. With the arrogance of youth I thought she would have been better off to have practiced self-reliance.

Then, this past winter, I learned that sometimes a person must depend on the kindness of strangers. One morning after a heavy rain my car would not start. Thinking the battery was dead, I called AAA for a jump start. While I was waiting by the curb, a pickup truck stopped and a young man named Steve stopped to ask if I needed help. He determined that the battery was not my problem, and gave me his name and phone number, saying, "If you have any problems while you're here just call me."

The next stranger who appeared was Ken from A&A/D&P Wrecker Service. Ken managed to get the car started, but it died as he was leaving. He stopped, restarted the car, and followed me all the way to town to make sure I got there without stalling.

At Sand Dollar Honda, Chuck Hosek determined that the car's ignition system was at fault. He ordered the necessary parts, which would arrive that afternoon, and offered to get me a ride home, even though my house was miles beyond the limit.

Kent, the driver, drove me the fifteen miles to Sea Isle, where I discovered I had left the house key in my car. Cheerfully, he offered to drive me back to get the key and then bring me home again. On the way back to town I realized that Sand 'N Sea Properties would have an extra key, so I asked him to drop me there, reasoning that eventually I would be able to catch a ride back to Sea Isle.

When I explained my problem to the Heather at Sand 'N Sea, the owner immediately asked her to drive me home and open the house for me. Here's Heather.

That afternoon Kent returned to take me to my repaired car and we continued our conversation about food and restaurants.

This episode was typical of my experience in Galveston. Again and again I depended on the kindness of strangers and was never disappointed.

In particular, the people at Sand 'N Sea were unfailingly helpful and kind. Wendy, the property manager,  solved every problem at the house with dispatch, competence and grace. Here's Wendy.

Sand 'N Sea Properties is a woman-owned business that is a model of how a business should be run: efficient and client-centered. I would never rent a Galveston house from any other firm.

So, yes, Blanche, sometimes we must depend on the kindness of strangers, and Galveston Island is the place to find the right strangers.