My favorite unexpected lesson was my encounter with a couple of really down-on-their luck folks camped out way up along Icicle Creek. They weren't "squatters" or anything like that- just stopped for a few days on a trip back home.
I was lost up there and approached their spot looking for directions. While there, I discovered that one of my trailer brake wires had gotten torn off- the fella got out his tools, jacked up the trailer, and fixed it for me. Wouldn't take a penny for it, either. They did accept my offer to make dinner by way of saying thanks, though.
The only reason I even deduced their circumstances was little bits and pieces in our conversation....never a word of complaint, just plain facts here and there.
Sure taught me something about the right way to deal with the misfortunes that life sometimes dishes out!
