My Tim's tab, entitling the bearer to a tasty treat, soon found its way into the hands of a young lad of about 10 years of age. He is a sibling cub to one of my daughter's teammates. Well you would think I had gifted him the winning Powerball ticket as the look on his face reminded me of one all kids wear when they see what Santa has left under the tree on the morning of December 25th. There were no string attached. My only request was that he buy a healthy doughnut, which left him somewhat perplexed. He's 10, he'll figure it out.
I really get a charge from surprising people by doing nice things for them. Being that way probably hasn't been very healthy for my net worth. As someone who doesn't have a paying job but who does own a pickup with a plow attached, I could do quite well if I were to hang out my shingle and open a business that charges actual money for clearing snow from driveways. Unfortunately for my bank account I get considerable more enjoyment from pushing snow for free than I would if it were solely an obligation that I had to fulfill. Despite the monetary shortcoming, I know am truly a richer person because helping, just for the sake of it, pays exceedingly well.
My most memorable encounter while helping a snow shoveling citizen took place about ten years ago. I was still a member of the RCMP. I was on duty, not wearing a uniform, and driving an unmarked police car through a neighbourhood in the center of St. John's. An elderly man was at the end of his driveway, about where the sidewalk should be, if only the city knew how or cared about clearing these. Winter walking in St. John's is not for the faint of heart. I'd strongly suggest that anyone so daring should be capable of leaping tall snowbanks and be faster than a speeding city council snow plow.
The senior sidewalk shoveler didn't appear to be making much of a dent in the ice dam that lay at the end of his driveway. In him I saw my grandfather, my namesake, Jimmy Barron. A quick u-turn and a few seconds later I was along side my victim. He was even older than I had first thought. I was more determined that I was going to help him, whether he wanted it or not. I was a public servant after all and I was on duty too. When I told him I was willing to help he didn't bat an eye. He didn't even look up nor stop swinging the shovel like an ax. Hmmm... then I realized what was up. Random acts of kindness, even 10 years ago, were as rare as hen's teeth. He figured I had to have an ulterior motive. I told him that I didn't want any money and, as quickly as that, he was a changed man. He handed me the shovel and, as I worked away, we began a wonderful conversation. I learned that he was Nigel Rusted, a name I immediately recognized as belonging to a renown medical doctor who was a pioneering physician throughout the 20th century and a legend in our province. Dr. Rusted was in his 90's at that time of our meeting but he was extremely spry and equally entertaining. I learned a little about his life's adventures, his family's history and the family home that belonged to the driveway we were clearing of snow.
I often recall my brief encounter with Dr. Rusted and realize how fortunate I was to have met him. He has since passed but not before becoming a centenarian. If I had simply kept driving on that winter's day ten years ago then I would have missed out on an incredible experience. Even now I am smiling just like that little boy to whom I gave the free Tim Horton's doughnut. When I rolled up in my car to help Nigel Rusted shovel his driveway I had no idea that my cup of warm memories would overflow again and again in the years that followed this chance encounter. I guess, in some small way, I have to thank Tim Horton's and the large tea, two sweetener and one milk that I bought last evening for stirring these great memories. I certainly won more a lot more than just a doughnut.
