They say if you’re kind, then kindness will be returned to you. I guess it’s not always meant to happen in the moment.

A couple of weeks ago, southern Ontario got its first real taste of winter. While Toronto mostly got rain, heavy snow fell north of the city. Of course, that was the day that my fiancé and I were scheduled to drive to Barrie to pick up his new kilt. Yes, my redheaded man has decided he’s wearing a kilt to our wedding!

The drive was smooth until the last minutes, when the world around us suddenly turned white and the air was full of frozen precipitation. There was at least a couple of feet of snow on the ground and driving became trickier. We pulled into the parking lot and noticed a car spinning her tires. Of course, we jumped out to help. Our SUV could handle the snow, but the young woman’s low-slung car could not.

Where it went wrong

Jeff recognized her from his first kilt-buying trip and joked with her, saying we’d help and then he’d see her in the shop. She didn’t reply, but I put it down to stress. She didn’t look happy to be stuck, and who would?!  I expected she would move her car to a part of the lot that was clear, but she kept driving. Odd, we thought, but it was lunchtime – maybe she was getting lunch for the other staff.

We trudged to the door of the establishment only to find a hastily made sign saying they were closed on account of weather. We had literally pushed the shop worker out so she could go home! So much for repaying kindness!

Fortunately, there was time for a second Barrie trip. This time, there was little new snow, but the temperatures had plummeted. The staff were kind and fitted the kilt perfectly. I can’t wait to see it on the groom on the big day.

And in better news – at least my dress arrived without complication!