By Sandra Collins

Do you remember watching “Pay it Forward”? If you are like me, that one little line has stuck in the back of your mind ever since. Well, two months ago I encountered a real live “Pay it Forward” moment in Sammamish.

One afternoon I was filling up the tank of my huge Tahoe and when the gas gauge finally stopped at $98. I thought to myself “sheesh, I need to get small car!” (I know many of you plateau moms can relate). So when my neighbor asked me did I know anyone that wanted to buy his 1987 Honda Accord for $1,000? I said, yes, me!

So despite the 295,000 miles it had on it, I bought it. Don’t Hondas last forever?

For two weeks I zipped around Sammamish fitting perfectly into any parking spot, grinning at the gas pump when not one penny more than $38.00 would fit in the tank. I didn’t even pay my son any mind when I pulled up to Eastlake High School in my pride and joy and my son opened the car door and said “Mom, I just can’t be seen in this car, I will get a ride home” and slammed the door. Kids.

I loved my car, until….I was driving to work and my gas-efficient dream car sputtered up to the stop sign of Northeast 25th Way and Northeast 228th in Sammamish, my very own neighborhood.

No! This is not happening! Kaput. It pooped out. I tried and tried to start it but I just kept getting that “rear, rear, rear sound” hoping it would turn over, but nothing was happening,

I was doomed on an incline. It was 8:15 a.m. and pouring down rain so of course everyone was less than understanding that I was stopped at the intersection looking like I was going to turn any moment.

Light after light changed. After many honks and a few birdies, two Sammamish walking “angels” asked me if I needed any help. At first I said, “No, it’s raining! I’ll figure something out,” but they were not having it.

They instructed me to stay put in the driver’s seat, put it in neutral and steer. No sooner than I could say “Are you sure?” These two average size, middle-aged super women pushed me around the corner and down the street. I was going to pull over to the side, but I started pumping the gas and wallah – it started. I immediately rolled down the window and as I left them in a cloud of smoke, I waved and yelled “Thank you!!

I always hoped they heard me.

Last week I saw my women walkers and I stopped to chat with them. I thanked them for that one day a couple months ago when they helped me without hesitation. I asked them if I could take their picture and told them I was going to write an article about random acts of kindness in Sammamish. I told them I wanted to acknowledge them and they said “Oh, you don’t have to do that, just Pay it Forward!”

I have since “traded” my hoopty in for a great little reliable 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit that I am in love with. I often see my gals walking in my neighborhood; I wave and remind myself to notice the people around me. Maybe someone needs some help.

Sandra Collins lives in Sammamish.