Hi Misty, I also DID pick up a hitchhiker. Years ago. We had visited my grandma and were leaving town to go home and there was a young man just as I was taking the exit to get onto the interstate. It was like a voice in my head told me to stop for the young man and caught me so off guard- that I stopped and picked him up. Even with my three children in the car. He got in and I drove him 45 min south to another town and dropped him off at a church. I was NOT planning on telling my husband because he would have totally disapproved…… but one of the kids told even though I told them not to. And I have not picked up anyone else since. Nor have I heard a voice telling me to.
Thank you for sharing this story. I imagine the young man (at least I hope) was very grateful for your trusting of him, especially with your children in the car.
Hi Misty, many, many years ago I was a hitchhiker. I mean, I'd ask for a ride home from school (50 km) when I was late for the train. The only rule was: don't be alone. So a friend and I would go on the highway, and I was the one who stuck out my thumb. It was a bold move that made us feel incredibly cool. I think it was the late '70s (Italy), a different world altogether. Our parents didn't know anything; it was a secret (I think they would have died of fright). But everything always went well; the people who gave us rides were nice and curious. Only once were we scared, because the man who picked us up had a gun in the side compartment. My blood ran cold when I saw it, but he noticed and said, "Don't worry, I'm a cop." I don't know if I believed him; it was a tense and silent ride, even though the man was kind and calm. Now I don't think I'd do it again, although you can never say never. I only know one woman who does it; she's in her sixties and always asks for a ride everywhere. I see her often and we say hello, and it amuses me to see that twinkle in her eyes that I had when I was 15.
The funniest thing was looking straight into the eyes of the oncoming driver, thinking: he'll stop, he won't stop, he'll stop, he won't stop...
Wow, thank you for sharing, Tiziana! That sounds wild and badass. :)
Your story reminded me of a time when I was in Italy, and there was a train strike that started late at night. My mom, aunt, and I were on the train and had to get off in the middle of nowhere. We didn’t speak much Italian... a few words maybe. :P
There were taxis lined up, and the first driver we met was really kind and spoke English, but his taxi wasn’t first in line, so he couldn’t take us. The second in line was a man and a woman who gave off really uncomfortable vibes...even the first taxi driver felt it and told us to be careful... we had no other choice but to ride with them.
For the whole hour, the driver and the woman yelled at each other. We huddled in the small backseat with this horrible feeling that they were going to dump us somewhere... I was so relieved when we finally got out of the car.
I DID pick up a “hitchhiker” once - it was raining, he just missed the bus. He asked about my motivations and I told him that I just think people should be kind to one another, to see each other’s need. He acted strangely the entire ride, reaching for his backpack and then deciding otherwise over and over. Only toward the end of the ride did I get uncomfortable and made a decision to drop him on the very public street versus turning into the neighborhood he requested. When he got out, he looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Never do this again.” And I have heeded his advice.🩷
Hi Misty, I also DID pick up a hitchhiker. Years ago. We had visited my grandma and were leaving town to go home and there was a young man just as I was taking the exit to get onto the interstate. It was like a voice in my head told me to stop for the young man and caught me so off guard- that I stopped and picked him up. Even with my three children in the car. He got in and I drove him 45 min south to another town and dropped him off at a church. I was NOT planning on telling my husband because he would have totally disapproved…… but one of the kids told even though I told them not to. And I have not picked up anyone else since. Nor have I heard a voice telling me to.
Thank you for sharing this story. I imagine the young man (at least I hope) was very grateful for your trusting of him, especially with your children in the car.
Hi Misty, many, many years ago I was a hitchhiker. I mean, I'd ask for a ride home from school (50 km) when I was late for the train. The only rule was: don't be alone. So a friend and I would go on the highway, and I was the one who stuck out my thumb. It was a bold move that made us feel incredibly cool. I think it was the late '70s (Italy), a different world altogether. Our parents didn't know anything; it was a secret (I think they would have died of fright). But everything always went well; the people who gave us rides were nice and curious. Only once were we scared, because the man who picked us up had a gun in the side compartment. My blood ran cold when I saw it, but he noticed and said, "Don't worry, I'm a cop." I don't know if I believed him; it was a tense and silent ride, even though the man was kind and calm. Now I don't think I'd do it again, although you can never say never. I only know one woman who does it; she's in her sixties and always asks for a ride everywhere. I see her often and we say hello, and it amuses me to see that twinkle in her eyes that I had when I was 15.
The funniest thing was looking straight into the eyes of the oncoming driver, thinking: he'll stop, he won't stop, he'll stop, he won't stop...
Wow, thank you for sharing, Tiziana! That sounds wild and badass. :)
Your story reminded me of a time when I was in Italy, and there was a train strike that started late at night. My mom, aunt, and I were on the train and had to get off in the middle of nowhere. We didn’t speak much Italian... a few words maybe. :P
There were taxis lined up, and the first driver we met was really kind and spoke English, but his taxi wasn’t first in line, so he couldn’t take us. The second in line was a man and a woman who gave off really uncomfortable vibes...even the first taxi driver felt it and told us to be careful... we had no other choice but to ride with them.
For the whole hour, the driver and the woman yelled at each other. We huddled in the small backseat with this horrible feeling that they were going to dump us somewhere... I was so relieved when we finally got out of the car.
I DID pick up a “hitchhiker” once - it was raining, he just missed the bus. He asked about my motivations and I told him that I just think people should be kind to one another, to see each other’s need. He acted strangely the entire ride, reaching for his backpack and then deciding otherwise over and over. Only toward the end of the ride did I get uncomfortable and made a decision to drop him on the very public street versus turning into the neighborhood he requested. When he got out, he looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Never do this again.” And I have heeded his advice.🩷
Holy cow, that sounds scary. Maybe your generosity and kindness changed him. I'd like to think so. :)
Me too!🩷