The kindness of strangers: My kids sent me a birthday fax from far away – a modest man made sure I received it

2026-03-22 - 14:09

I was all alone in a Washington DC hotel on my birthday – and someone else had received my children’s message by mistake Read more in the kindness of strangers series In the 1990s I travelled extensively for work, leaving behind my young family. It was tough on us all. One trip took me to Washington DC on my birthday. I was sitting in my hotel room, alone and feeling sorry for myself, when there was a knock at the door. On the other side was a bellboy holding a birthday cake, complete with lit candles on top. “Happy birthday!” he said, handing me the cake and a fax. My two very young daughters had handwritten a lovely happy birthday message and sent it to the other side of the world. Continue reading...