We are always building and growing our community with others. Sometimes you donโt even realize how much an acquaintance cares about you until they do something unexpected. We are constantly going about our daily routines, but do we often stop and think about how close weโve gotten to the people we see all the time? Some garbage collectors in the U.K. showed us all how amazing a community can be when they took the time to wish a woman an extra special birthday.
He had once promised a woman on his route that he would celebrate with her if she made it to her 100th birthday.
Dorothy, also known as Mercy, Ballard, is an elderly woman in England. She lives on Ben Birdโs trash collection route, and theyโve gotten used to talking to one another while Ben is working.
One day, Ben made the promise to Dorothy that he would bring her a cake if she lived long enough to turn 100. A very big birthday definitely deserves an extra touch to make it feel special!
Ben decided to do this because he does feel that they know each other well enough due to the routine that they have together.
Ben has been on this route for a long time. Heโs had the chance to get to know a lot of the houses in the area, and he has gotten close with Dorothy. He describes their relationship to ITV:
โI talk to her every Thursday from 8am to 8.10am and every time I walk up her garden path she will be there waiting for meโฆI never have a cup of tea or anything like that, I wouldnโt let her go to that trouble. I just then run after the other two lads to catch them upโฆIโve been a binman for about 11 years and love listening to her stories about her lifeโฆโ
When her birthday arrived, Ben pulled out all the stops.
Dorothy was already having a great day โ she got a letter from the Queen, as per English tradition! Ben kept his promise. Dorothy turned 100 years old and he brought her a cake. But he made it even better: he also got two of his colleagues involved in it. Together, they all walked up to Dorothyโs front door singing โHappy Birthday.โ
Dorothy was overjoyed by the birthday treat and by the fact that her trash collectors did all this just for her. The gesture meant a lot to her and she told Ben that this now makes them โbest friends.โ
It turns out that the feeling is mutual. Dorothy speaks just as highly of Ben as he does of her, and she really appreciated his gesture.
It turns out that Benโs birthday treat went a long way for Dorothy. One of Dorothyโs great-grandchildren, Katy Smith, says that Benโs presence has been a treasured one for Dorothy. She says:
โMy great gran always speaks so highly of her binman Ben. So I messaged him to thank him that he made her day.โ
Itโs important that we keep in mind just how impactful these little interactions can be for us.
If you really think about it, you probably have someone in your life, just like Ben and Dorothy, who are part of your lifeโs routine that you donโt always think about. Just like Ben, you could take it upon yourself to make someoneโs day feel extra unique.
Watch the video below to see Dorothyโs emotional reaction to her birthday treat!
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