The Generosity of Strangers

Earlier in the month, my husband and youngest entered a raffle during an Initiation (Pre-Novice) Level Tournament in Coaldale.  It was for 3 tickets to a Calgary Flames game on March 18th.  Keegan and his older brother, Tyler, were excited about the prospect of going to their first NHL game with daddy.  Unfortunately, Keegan came down with a really bad cold, and on Sunday was just too sick to go anywhere, so Ron decided he  would stay home with Keegan and Tyler and I would go and try to find someone else to use the third ticket.  I asked a good friend if her son would like to go, so I took the two of them to the game...It was also his first NHL game.


We found our seats which were just on the rail of the second tier, section 214, and sat beside 4 men.  I really don't know how it happened, but during the first period of the game, the man sitting closest to us had left and when he came back, he got my attention behind Tyler's back.  He and his 3 friends had bought Tyler a Calgary Flames jersey!!  I was amazed that 4 strangers had done this for my son.  Tyler was beside himself with excitement (and the more I think of it...I think the reason they bought the jersey was because everyone else was wearing one, and Tyler had asked me for the umpteenth time to buy him a jersey and I likely said they were too expensive and they overheard it and maybe thought I was a single parent).  During the course of the game, Tyler and I talked with the man.  We found out that his name was Aaron and that he knew Theoren Fleury...We had also discussed that Ty's number was 14, and that my youngests was 7 because it was half of 14.  He even showed Tyler the tattoo of Theo Fleury's signature on his right leg, along with the flaming "C".  Tyler and his friend chatted with their new friend through the game, cheering and making noise along with everyone else.


After the game, as the boys and I were leaving, I thanked him again for his generosity, and told him it was very sweet of them, and he waved it off.


I doubt Aaron or his friends will ever see this post, but if they do...THANK YOU!  You made a little boy's first NHL game experience even more memorable, and restored my faith in the goodness of people.