Fallbrook duo treats strangers with kindness

Our story begins with a leisurely road trip to Oceanside for a wheelchair rugby tournament. The journey starts in Phoenix, AZ. The trip was fabulous; tournament was great; beaches were beautiful. Completely exhausted, sleep deprived and wishing that we were already back in Arizona, our trip home begins.

Upon entering the town of Fallbrook we hear a clicking noise under the hood, pull off the road to see what it could be and find a semi-shredded belt. It’s 6:40 p.m. on Sunday evening. We know we’re pretty well stuck when an SUV pulls up behind us – out pops “Piper,” a beautiful lady with a kind smile. She offers her help and phones a gentleman by the name of “Dan.”

Dan also comes to our rescue and helps limp our car to Piper’s house. Dan runs to the auto parts store to buy a new belt for us. At the house, they offer us restroom, drinks and laughter! Dan fixes our belt and as we prepare to get on our way, Piper comes running out of the house and plops a grocery bag full of caffeinated beverages and food in my lap for the road. To top it all off, their response to us paying them for even just the part was, “Oh, they were overstocked, they were giving these belts away!”

Of course, this wasn’t true, simply their humorous way of not allowing us to pay them. They spent two hours with us, changed our lives, and by their actions have sent us on a mission to “pay it forward.”

Piper and Dan, we can’t thank you enough! You two are the most amazing people I think I have ever come in contact with. If anyone knows Piper or Dan, please pass our thanks on to them.

Tammy Spadafore/Flagstaff, AZ

Gabe Nyrkkanen/Tucson, AZ