This is my new coat.

I live in Los Angeles, so I didn’t have a coat. I finally caved and got a sweatshirt in December, but a coat was a little much.

I went to the Apple Store today to get my computer fixed so that I could finally start publishing this blog! By the time I was on the bus on the way home, it was getting kind of late, so it was getting “colder.”

I have a fairly high tolerance for cold. After all, I moved here from the greatest city in the world (NYC) a mere seven months ago. But there was this man who was bundled up pretty well – he had a sweater and a coat on. And he came over to me and said, “where’s your coat?” I told him I didn’t have one.

He literally took the coat off his back and said “here, take this one.” I tried to convince him “no, no, no I really, really don’t need one. I live in LA. It doesn’t get that cold. I can buy one if I need one. Please, please. I appreciate your help so much, but I don’t need it, but thank you, thank you.”

He wouldn’t take no for an answer. He said the coat had been a gift and he wanted to give it to someone else. He handed it to me and put his hand on mine, and in his British accent told me to have a very nice night. Off he went into the night, a random good Samaritan.

Of course, as someone living in LA, my first thoughts were wondering what’s wrong with the coat – if somehow I’m secretly harboring cocaine for someone, or if it came out of a dumpster, or if it has a camera on it or something. But, then as someone really trying to live a great life and believe in people, my thought was what a nice man.

The coat is super comfortable! And I feel like it’s a “tough person” coat. I like it a lot. I will pass on this man’s kindness by passing this coat on to someone who needs it more than I do.

Tagged: Kindness of Strangers