Lifestyle
'That's something that he would do': A stranger's generosity reminded her of her dad
Caroline Davis said a stranger’s generosity reminder her of her dad.
Caroline David
hide caption
toggle caption
Caroline David
This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.
In the summer of 2024, Caroline Davis and her partner were doing a DIY home project that required 1,500 pounds of gravel. So Davis headed to a home improvement store, and started filling up her Toyota Corolla with 50-pound bags.
“I’m loading, loading. And this older man comes over,” she recalled. “And he says, ‘Do you know that your car has a weight limit?’”
Davis did not know that. It had never even occurred to her that she could damage her car with a heavy load.
“That feels to me like something your dad would tell you,” Davis said. Her dad had died of a heart attack in 2017, at the age of 57.
“So I’m doing DIY later in life,” she said. “I didn’t [learn] that from him.”
Caroline Davis (left) and her father in June 2012.
Caroline Davis/Caroline Davis
hide caption
toggle caption
Caroline Davis/Caroline Davis
Davis started to feel overwhelmed; how was she going to unload the gravel from her car and bring it back to the store? And then how would she transport all the gravel she needed back home for her project? That’s when the man made an offer of unusual generosity.
“He says, ‘I can load you up in my truck. Do you live nearby?’ And I say, ‘Yes,’” Davis said.
The man helped her unload all the gravel from her car, and then loaded it into his truck. They exchanged numbers, and she shared her address. When she pulled onto the highway, the kindness of what he had done began to hit her.
“I just start to cry in my car because I was so grateful for the goodness of strangers, of this person helping me,” Davis said.
“The whole interaction just reminded me of my dad, of knowing that that’s something that he would do.”
When they arrived at her house, the man helped her unload all 1,500 pounds of gravel onto her driveway. She thanked him, again and again, and he insisted that she not worry about it.
Davis didn’t want him to leave empty-handed. She tried to offer him money, then wine, but he wouldn’t accept them. Then she thought of something he might like.
“I have a garden. And it’s the end of the season. And I just say, ‘Do you like cucumbers?’” Davis recalled.
“He’s been pretty serious up until now,” she said. “And his face just lights up and he says, ‘I love cucumbers.’”
She offered him a tour of the garden; it turned out he, too, had been a gardener, before his work got in the way. Davis twisted a handful of big, prickly cucumbers off the vine, and gave them to the man. He seemed thrilled.
“He tucks them under his arm, and he just marches off back to his truck,” she said. “And I watched him drive off, leaving behind my 1,500 pounds of gravel.”
Today, inspired by her unsung hero, Davis tries to be on the lookout for others who might need a hand.
“I just am so grateful for people like that, who teach me the things I don’t know I don’t know.”
My Unsung Hero is also a podcast — new episodes are released every Tuesday. To share the story of your unsung hero with the Hidden Brain team, record a voice memo on your phone and send it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King stepped out in NYC to celebrate Gayle’s 70th birthday — and, Oprah gave her longtime friend a shocking surprise.
The two pals hit up Ci Siamo — a popular Manhattan restaurant … Oprah in a gold dress under a long white coat and Gayle going with a more muted black and teal outfit, perfectly matching her scarf.
The two were joined by Megan Sullivan, general manager of the restaurant, who walked into the joint for what Gayle clearly thought was supposed to be a small dinner … though Oprah had a big surprise to her.
Winfrey posted a clip from the restaurant to her Instagram Saturday … walking in with a distracted Gayle — when dozens of voices scream out “Surprise.”
Gayle bounces back in total shock while Oprah laughs at her reaction … explaining in the caption it’s hard to surprise Gayle — and, their group had to tell a ton of lies to the star.
TMZ Studios
The camera flips around to the room … and check out the star power — Tina Knowles, Robert De Niro and many more bold-faced names took the time to celebrate Gayle.
All of this was for Gayle’s 70th … which isn’t until December 28th — all part of the surprise we reckon.
Gayle and Oprah have been friends for decades … first meeting back in 1976 at a local Baltimore TV station when Oprah was an anchor and Gayle got a job as a production assistant.
This friendship still going strong … and, clearly it’s still full of surprises!
Sean Combs (left) and Jay-Z attend the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets game at Staples Center on May 4, 2009, in Los Angeles.
Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
The woman who accused Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her when she was 13 years old shared new details about her recollection of the night of the alleged assault.
In an interview with NBC News, the woman — now a 38-year-old mother who lives in Alabama — said she had stayed quiet for 24 years because she felt no one would have believed her.
“Even if somebody found out, who was gonna believe me? I mean, it was to the word of two celebrities against mine,” she said.
NBC said in the report the woman, who is referred to in court documents as “Jane Doe,” declined to be identified.
Among the new details, the Alabama woman claimed that during the alleged assault, Jay-Z — whose real name is Shawn Carter — placed his hand over her mouth and told her to stop when she resisted.
The woman told the outlet that she acknowledged there are some inconsistencies in her account but firmly maintained that she was attacked.
In a statement to NPR, Carter denied the allegations of assault, saying the complaint was filed in “pursuit of money and fame.” He added, “This incident didn’t happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press. True Justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it began. This 1-800 lawyer doesn’t realize it yet, but, soon.”
Combs has denied all accusations against him. His legal team told NPR on Saturday that now, a plaintiff of Buzbee’s has been “exposed” of falsely claiming to be a victim. “This is the beginning of the end of this shameful money grab,” Combs’ attorneys said in a shared statement.
The lawsuit against Combs, filed by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee in October in New York, was refiled on Sunday to include Carter.
Several lawsuits alleging physical assault, rape and other misconduct have been filed against Combs since his arrest on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. But the Alabama woman’s decision to refile her lawsuit to include Carter was a major development — as he is the only other high-profile defendant named in the case alongside Combs.
The night of the assault, with new alleged details
The Alabama woman alleged the assault took place in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party, according to the lawsuit and her interview with NBC.
At the time, she was 13 and living in Rochester, N.Y. She dreamed of attending the VMAs so she snuck out of her house and a friend agreed to drive her to Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the woman told NBC.
But without a ticket, she said she stayed outside where crowds watched the awards show on a jumbotron. The woman looked for a way to gain entry either to the VMAs or an after-party. That was how she met a limousine driver who claimed to work for Combs. According to the suit, the driver offered to take her to an “after-party.”
“The driver told her that Combs liked younger girls and said she ‘fit what Diddy was looking for,’ ” the suit said.
The driver picked up the 13-year-old later that night and dropped her off at a large white house, where she was met by two men who asked her to a sign a document before going inside, the suit alleges. According to the suit, the woman said she now believes that document was a non-disclosure agreement, adding that she never received a copy.
The lawsuit says the residence was filled with celebrities. “I’m talking to, like, Fred Durst, Benji Madden, about his tattoo, because, you know, about his tattoo that’s ‘The Last Supper,’ because I have a religious background, so it was just something to talk about,” she told NBC.
Durst’s and Madden’s teams did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment, but Madden’s representative told NBC News that the musician did not attend the VMAs because he was on tour with his band Good Charlotte in the Midwest at the time.
The woman told NBC News that later in the night, she took a drink that was being served by the waitresses. After a few sips, she began to feel lightheaded and looked for a room to lie down.
Soon after, the suit alleged that Combs, Carter and an unnamed woman entered the room. The suit accused Carter of raping her first, followed by Combs, while the woman watched.
“Jay-Z comes over, holds me down. I start trying to push away. He puts his hand over my mouth, tells me to stop it, to cut the s***, and then he rapes me like he had me overpowered,” she told NBC News.
According to the suit, the woman fought back and eventually fled the house. She later found a gas station and used their phone to call her father, who came to pick her up.
“I was upset, and the person at the gas station could tell that I was obviously upset, and she let me use the phone. I called my dad because he was the only person I trust at that time. I told him I messed up and I needed a ride home,” she said in the NBC interview.
NBC News identified some inconsistencies in her account of the night of the assault. In addition to the discrepancy about meeting Madden at the after-party, NBC said the woman’s father did not recall picking her up. NBC could also not determine whether an after-party occurred at any location matching her description.
When asked about the inconsistencies, the woman told NBC News, “ I have made some mistakes.” She added, “Honestly, what is the clearest is what happened to me.”
Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, said in a statement to NPR: “Our client remains fiercely adamant that what she has stated is true, to the best of her memory,” adding that she also agreed to submit to a polygraph.
Muralists living and working in Los Angeles often bring color and culture to the city’s concrete façades. Their work is a tribute to the life and times of the city. For our annual holiday wrapping paper feature, Times art directors commissioned eight L.A.-based muralists to illustrate intriguing designs, from a Dodgers tribute to sweet treats perfect for the season. (You can find all the designs in Sunday’s Weekend print section.)
Here, you can read about the artists and download your favorite designs to use on your desktop and phone. Or you can print them out at home and use them to wrap to your heart’s content.
Daniel Antelo
Daniel “Downtown Daniel” Antelo is a muralist and oil painter from Los Angeles who’s celebrated for his dynamic style that fuses hyper-realism with abstract elements. His art, which has showcased the Dodgers, Nike and Kobe Bryant’s family, among other clients, reflects a deep connection to L.A.’s culture and community.
You can see more of his work on Instagram @downtowndaniel and on his website, downtowndaniel.net.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
Marisabel Bazan
Marisabel Bazan is a Panamanian artist based in Los Angeles who’s known for her vibrant, multidisciplinary works spanning painting, sculpture and public art. Her art explores themes of metamorphosis, mental health and the human spirit, with notable commissions such as “Dance of the Butterflies” (West Hollywood) and “Il Cammino Della Farfalla” (Panama City, Panama). Exhibited internationally, including at the United Nations in Geneva, Bazan’s work is part of prominent collections worldwide. A vocal mental health advocate, she merges creativity and humanitarian efforts through powerful projects and collaborations with global brands.
You can see more of her work on Instagram @marisabelbazan and on her website, marisabelbazan.com.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
Parisa Parnian
Parisa Parnian is an Iranian American artist and cultural storyteller based in Los Angeles whose work bridges the worlds of food, design and art.
With a creative practice focused on celebrating immigrant and diasporic communities, Parnian uses her illustrations to reflect her passion for connecting cultures by using bold patterns, vibrant colors and meaningful narratives. Her work, deeply inspired by her experiences as a culinary creative and visual artist, aims to honor heritage while also reimagining it for a modern, multicultural audience.
You can see more of her work on Instagram @savage_taste and on her website, savagemuse.com.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
Cleon Peterson
Cleon Peterson’s is an L.A.-based artist whose chaotic and violent paintings depict the struggle between power and submission in the fluctuating architecture of contemporary society. His category-defying work has illustrated features in the New York Times, fiction by George Saunders in the New Yorker and Penguin Classics’ edition of Philip K. Dick’s “The Man in the High Castle.” In 2020, he released a series of instrumental political posters disseminated through his website.
You can see more of his work on Instagram @cleonpeterson and on his website, cleonpeterson.com.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
Brenda Cibrian
Brenda Cibrian is an artist and muralist based in Los Angeles whose work centers on nostalgic, dreamy and introspective themes. When collaborating with communities and clients, she uses her murals to show cultural elements, nature and diversity with the intention of beautifying spaces with uplifting art. As a multidisciplinary visual artist, Cibrian says her mediums include large-scale murals, original paintings, illustrations and graphic design.
You can see more of her work on Instagram @brendacibrian_art and on her website, brendacibrian.com.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
Mikolaj Wyszynski
Mikolaj Wyszynski is a painter and illustrator from downtown Los Angeles. He works mainly in acrylics mixed with spray paint and enamels for his paintings and murals. His new work is focused on portraits with technology and fictional landscapes that are riddled with cybertrash.
You can see more of his work on Instagram @mikolajone and his website, mikolajw.com.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
Nuria Ortiz
Ms. Yellow, a.k.a. Nuria Ortiz, is a self-taught Mexican American muralist and teaching artist from Carson. She has dedicated her time to the creative development and empowerment of communities, working closely with schools, galleries, organizations, museums and others to develop art workshops, murals and mentorships for youth. The focal themes of her artwork are culture, folklore, mental health, education, unity, love and social justice.
You can see more of her work on Instagram @MsYellowArt.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
Kim Gaeta
Kim Gaeta is a Mexican American artist and muralist who was born in Los Angeles. Her focus is on what unites the human condition with nature and the cycles of life and death. Working within a range of media including assemblage, drawing, printing and painting, she has explored floral, fauna, folklore and symbols. Her images are often surreal and focused on symbolism within nature.
The illustration below unites hope, prosperity and good luck in the new year. Kim uses lady bugs as berries to symbolize good fortune, the wreaths to symbolize eternal unity and the candles to symbolize light in darkness.
You can see more of her work on Instagram @tarantula_garden and on her website kimgaeta.com.
Download desktop background here
Download cellphone background here
How Maine celebrated the holidays 100 years ago
Maryland Black Bears grab extra point vs. New Jersey Titans in overtime – The Rink Live
Michigan hockey answers the bell in final game before winter break
‘Robin Hood’ or ‘legalized theft’? Why it’s easy for Massachusetts police to seize property
How to watch Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights NHL game: Live stream, TV channel, and start time | Goal.com US
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Trump taps Richard Grenell as presidential envoy for special missions, Edward S. Walsh as Ireland ambassador
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,025
Luigi Mangione retains high-profile former prosecutor as defense lawyer
Trump brings political excitement to Army-Navy game
Turkey reopens its embassy in Syria for the first time in 12 years
-
Technology1 week agoStruggling to hear TV dialogue? Try these simple fixes
-
Business6 days agoOpenAI's controversial Sora is finally launching today. Will it truly disrupt Hollywood?
-
Politics2 days agoCanadian premier threatens to cut off energy imports to US if Trump imposes tariff on country
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25782636/247422_ChatGPT_anniversary_CVirginia.jpg "Inside the launch — and future — of ChatGPT")
Technology3 days agoInside the launch — and future — of ChatGPT
-
Politics1 day agoU.S. Supreme Court will decide if oil industry may sue to block California's zero-emissions goal
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25789444/1258459915.jpg "OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change")
Technology1 day agoOpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change
-
Politics3 days agoConservative group debuts major ad buy in key senators' states as 'soft appeal' for Hegseth, Gabbard, Patel
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25546252/STK169_Mark_Zuckerburg_CVIRGINIA_D.jpg "Meta asks the US government to block OpenAI’s switch to a for-profit")
Technology1 day agoMeta asks the US government to block OpenAI’s switch to a for-profit