Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Wednesday, December 30, 2015

West Edmonton Mall Miracle

Go here. Have fun.
My SIL is a good, hard worker—steady and dependable.
He provides for his family.
All the necessities of life.
The only thing missing is extra money for . . . extras.
Trips to West Edmonton Mall for a day at Galaxyland aren’t within the scope of their usual budget. Thus it was with great joy that their family received, as a gift, passes for just that. A day ‘doing the rides’ and enjoying the fun at the world-famous park.
They packed up snacks and kids and made the twenty-minute trip to The Mall.
They rode, laughed, screamed and loved everything from the Carousel to the Mindbender. Finally, happily exhausted, they took a break—sitting on a set of steps and enjoying some of the treats they had brought.
Directly across from them was a bank of coin-operated video games. Presented, perhaps, as an alternative to riding/rushing/screaming. Or maybe as a little diversion to someone who is waiting for those who are riding/rushing/screaming. These games offer, as a reward, coupons to be used for the purchase of ‘Galaxyland stuff’.
As their family sat eating and recounting their experiences thus far, a middle-aged man (waiting for kids and/or grandkids) was playing one of the games.
‘Hat Trick.’
He was doing well.
Really well.
The machine lit up. And paid out.
2600+ coupons poured forth.
2600. Plus.
SIL laughed. “Wow! If you’re wondering what to do with those, we can take them off your hands!”
The man turned, smiled . . .
And dropped the entire pile into SIL’s lap.
2600+ coupons.
I needn’t tell you about the astonished faces or the hastily gasped out thanks as the man nodded, smiled again, and left.
Or the normally out-of-reach gifts chosen by several little girls who had just received their first glimpse of Heaven.
I would like to ask one thing of you, the reader, though.
Please pass this story around.
I want this man to know the joy he brought to those little girls.
Maybe, somehow, we can thank him.

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful thing for him to do. Your SIL and his family will remember that day for the rest of their lives.

    ReplyDelete
  2. To say we were flabbergasted by the pile of tickets given to us would be putting it mildly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow! Santa in disguise?
    What a wonderful gesture, I can imagine the delight on those little faces.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, wow ... what a wonderful thing to do. And now, doggone it, you've made me tear up again. AGAIN. I don't know how long I can keep reading these lovely stories.

    Yes I do. Always. That's how long. Bring 'em on, Diane :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Winning those games are rare enough, but to have someone spontaneously donate the tickets to us without a thought was truly amazing in the literal sense of the word.

    The other detail that was left out of the story is my wife chose the spot to sit for a snack, not me. So I woukd give credit to her for this boon as well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am with jenny_o here. If nothing else I know that my tear ducts are working just fine.
    What a wonderful man. And an amazing treat for a hardworking family.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely thing to do. I wish the kindness that Christmas brings out would last the other 11 months. I can only imagine how they'll think back to that day and the kindness of a complete stranger.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a wonderful story - and yes, I am sharing it. Happy New Year Diane, to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really like the blog and I hope people will have a new blog, thanks for the blog
    EBET Gaming

    ReplyDelete

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