Several hundred people gathered inside the Tivoli Theatre on Friday night to remember and say goodbye to Bobby Stone. Friends, family and colleagues all spent a couple of hours telling stories.
For many, myself included, it was a pretty uplifting, yet humbling, experience. The thing a lot of people walked away with was a sense that we could all follow Bobby's lead and do more to make life better for other people. I have no problem admitting to anyone that I like to help people and really do try, but usually only if it's convenient for me.
Barry CourterI made a quiet little vow to do better on Friday night, but had no idea my vow would be challenged so quickly. Saturday afternoon I needed to be downtown to meet some people, but the "low fuel" light on the dashboard meant I needed to make a stop.
As I reached for the pump, I saw a man carrying jumper cables walking toward me. I did not see where he had come from, nor did I see a vehicle anywhere behind him. My instinct was to think of a reason why I couldn't help, but then a single word popped into my head: Bobby.
So, with a smile, I agreed to help and asked where his car was, fearing we might be traveling a ways to get to it. He pointed across the street toward an abandoned dry cleaners, and I followed him over, thinking what a good guy I was being and wouldn't Bobby be proud.
I didn't even have to get out of the truck. I popped the hood and watched as the guy hooked up the cables, and while I was patting myself on the back, he tried several times to turn the engine over, and nothing. Not a sound.
Now, I'm thinking I'm going to have to drive this stranger all over town or sit and wait while he calls for help. While I'm going over my options and feeling sorry for myself, the guy unhooks the cables, shuts my hood and apologizes for taking up my time and I drive off.
Yep, just put the truck in gear and drove off and called a friend. The same friend who I had spent several minutes the night before talking with about Bobby and his need to help people. We talked about the different ways people help others, comparing the wealthy guy who simply writes a check or the guy who stops to help a stranded motorist.
We might have made some comments about safety, and how you never know what you are getting into, just to make us feel better. I wish this story had a moral, or even a happy ending, or even a real point. After my meeting downtown, I did go back to see if the guy was still there and he was not, so there is that.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.